A second-storey balcony collapsed on to a parked vehicle at a condominium complex in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, forcing residents to leave the building while engineers assess whether it is safe.
The incident happened on South Atlantic Avenue on Saturday night, September 5. No injuries were reported, according to city officials.
The structure was declared uninhabitable after the collapse, with access restricted pending an inspection of the building’s structural integrity. Temporary wooden supports and reinforcement beams were installed beneath the damaged balcony to help prevent further damage.
New Smyrna Beach balcony collapse prompts evacuation
Photographs from the scene showed caution tape across the front entrance and driveway, with debris left beside the building. The balcony fell directly on to a vehicle parked below it.
Will Barth, who was staying at a nearby rental property, said he saw emergency vehicles at the complex after the collapse.
“A lot of lights, fire trucks all over the place, but I’m glad it sounds like everyone is safe,” he said.
Jamie Cusick, who owned the property before selling it in 2019, said he was shocked by the incident and had believed the building was well maintained.
“It’s totally frightening—I can understand why they evacuated,” Mr Cusick said.
New Smyrna Beach officials are working with the property owners on repairs and investigating what caused the balcony to give way. Residents will not be allowed to return until structural engineers have confirmed that the building is safe.
