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Structural Evaluation Underway at Orlando’s Rialto Apartments After Evacuation

County required the owner to hire a Florida-licensed engineer to determine whether the complex can be reoccupied.

Overview

  • Roughly 350 to 400 residents were ordered out after firefighters found widespread cracks, jammed doors and reports of loud popping noises.
  • A structural engineering team began unit-by-unit inspections Friday morning to assess damage, safety and any repair plan.
  • Residents were largely denied access to retrieve belongings as deputies secured the site, while animal services entered to recover pets for reunions.
  • Ground-floor businesses remain closed until safety is verified, and officials have not provided a timetable for return.
  • County officials say required construction-era inspections occurred in 2013–2014; the property failed several fire-safety checks last year, and the owner says it is assisting residents with temporary lodging with support from Rosen Hotels, Visit Orlando and the Red Cross.