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Rialto Apartments Evacuated in Doctor Phillips After Cracks Found, 358 Residents Displaced

Officials await a private engineering assessment to decide when residents can safely return, with hotel placements underway.

Overview

  • Orange County’s building safety division ordered a full evacuation after an on-site inspection found signs of structural instability.
  • Residents reported loud popping sounds before firefighters documented cracks near fire escapes and apartment doors.
  • A total of 358 people were escorted out, and deputies allowed brief returns for essential items under supervision.
  • Building ownership hired a private firm, with engineers traveling from Fort Myers, and no reentry timeline has been set.
  • Orange County, Visit Orlando and the American Red Cross are coordinating hotel lodging, and ground-floor businesses remain closed.