Balcony collapses at New Smyrna Beach condo; building deemed unlivable
Balcony collapse forces evacuation of New Smyrna Beach duplex
A second-story balcony collapsed at a duplex in New Smyrna Beach during the Labor Day weekend, damaging a vehicle and forcing the building to be evacuated, city officials said.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - A second-story balcony collapsed over the weekend at a condominium complex on South Atlantic Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, sparking immediate safety concerns and forcing the residents to evacuate.
City officials deemed the building uninhabitable until structure engineers could verify the integrity of the building.
Balcony collapses at New Smyrna Beach condo complex
What we know:
On Saturday night, Sept. 5, an upper-level balcony at a condo complex in New Smyrna Beach suddenly collapsed and fell onto a vehicle parked beneath it, officials said.
It happened at a complex near Atlantic Ocean avenues, not far from the beach. Remarkably, no one was hurt, officials said.
FOX 35 crews found the balcony being supported by two temporary wooden pillars, caution tape blocking the front door and driveway, and debris off to the side. Crews installed temporary support beams and structural reinforcements beneath the balcony to prevent further collapses or secondary damage to neighboring units.
What they're saying:
"We saw the aftermath and thought, 'Wow, that was something crazy,'" said Will Barth, who was staying in a rental property nearby. "A lot of lights, fire trucks all over the place, but I’m glad it sounds like everyone is safe."
Jamie Cusick, who owned the property prior to selling it in 2019, expressed shock over the incident.
"It’s crazy. I can’t even believe it," Cusick said. "I know this building was well maintained and cared for, so it’s shocking to see this happen. It's totally frightening—I can understand why they evacuated."
Building deemed uninhabitable until engineers deem it safe
What's next:
A city spokesperson confirmed to FOX 35 that officials are working directly with the property owners to navigate repairs and to determine what caused the balcony to collapse.
For now, the building has been deemed unsafe until engineers can verify its integrity.
The Source: This story uses information gathered by FOX 35's Stephanie Buffamonte from a neighbor and the former owner of the building, as well as a statement from the City of New Smyrna Beach.