Residents evacuated from Clearwater condo after cracks found in pillar underneath building
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — Residents at a Clearwater condo were evacuated on Tuesday evening after cracks were found in a pillar underneath the building.
Officials said the Clearwater Police Department and Clearwater Fire & Rescue were called to the South Beach III Condos at 1460 Gulf Boulevard just before 4 p.m. to help evacuate residents and check out the structural integrity of the building.
Clearwater Fire & Rescue’s Division Chief Jevon Graham said the 12-story structure was being remodeled when engineers found a support column splitting in the first-floor parking structure.
The engineers deemed the structure unsafe and called first responders to begin evacuating it.
Fire rescue officials said 60 people were evacuated from the building and will be displaced all night. The Red Cross will assist those who need help with lodging.
Graham said crews are working to secure the split so the column doesn’t break down or collapse.
“It’s safe to be around it at this point, but they want to stabilize it to make sure,” Graham said.
Drone video from John Yanchoris/Sky Drones showed dozens of first responders parked outside the condo.
The scene was turned over to a private contractor and engineer around 9 p.m. First responders helped unload materials that those contractors were using to stabilize the building.
