Structural instability prompts residents to evacuate in Dr. Phillips

More than 350 residents were evacuated from The Rialto apartments in the early morning of Thursday, March 19.

By Leticia Silva
| 2:53 p.m. March 19, 2026

Southwest Orange

The Orange County Fire Rescue Dispatch Center received calls from residents in The Rialto apartments at approximately 5 a.m. Thursday, March 19, reporting loud popping sounds from the building and jammed front doors.

This immediately raised concerns of structural instability, which prompted Orange County Fire Rescue, along with the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Orange County Building Safety Division to respond to the apartment complex, located at 7343 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando.

Around 358 people were evacuated from The Rialto Apartments, who now are being displaced to nearby hotels with the help of Orange County's Office of Emergency Management, Visit Orlando and the American Red Cross.

The Orange County Building Safety Division has directed the building's property management to have the building inspected and evaluated by a Florida-licensed engineer or architect to determine the cause of damage, if the building is safe to occupy and any needed repairs.

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Leticia Silva

Staff writer Leticia Silva is a graduate from the University of Central Florida. As a child, her dream was to become a journalist. Now, her dream is a reality. On her free time she enjoys beach trips, trying new restaurants and spending time with her family and dog.