ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – New pictures show cracks around an apartment building in the Dr. Phillips area that was evacuated on Thursday because of a structural issue that the county determined to be dangerous.
The building is The Rialto, along West Sand Lake Road near Turkey Lake Road.
[WATCH: Orange County officials hold news conference after apartment building evacuation]
According to Orange County Fire Rescue, they received a call from a resident who said she couldn’t open her front door and heard popping noises that made her think the building was collapsing.
When crews arrived, they found signs of structural instability and had to force the resident’s door open to get them out. That’s when they began evacuating the building.
Over 200 people were evacuated, according to Fire Rescue Division Chief William Farhat.
Gilbert Mercado, Orange County’s deputy chief building inspector, said when they walked the building, they found obvious signs of fresh cracking through the drywall, which got progressively worse as they went up the building’s floors.
Businesses in the building were also evacuated.
Reduced rates for Rialto residents
On Thursday, Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated resident “distress rates” for people displaced by the evacuation at Rialto Apartments, with nightly rates ranging from $79 at Rosen Inn properties to $169 at Rosen Shingle Creek.
The offer requires proof of residency, is subject to availability, excludes taxes, waives pet and resort fees during the distress period, and carries a 24-hour cancellation policy; standard parking charges apply.
Reservations are available at 866-33-ROSEN (76736).
Doubletree Theme Park Resort and Courtyard by Marriott, across from Universal Orlando, are also offering special rates.