20 units at Orange County apartment complex evacuated after water main breaks

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Crews in Orange County stopped a water main break that gushed reclaimed water into an apartment complex and caused traffic backups on International Drive south of SeaWorld.

Officials said the break was caused by construction work that was unrelated to the pipes that were hit.

Firefighters said those who were evacuated from 20 units at the Mission Club apartments are not allowed to return to their homes until the building is inspected.

"It's probably two to three inches deep," resident Bon Bautista said. "My wife called me. I was working, so I drove, like, nine miles to get here, and then I saw the waters coming inside."

He said the water flooded his apartment, ruining his electronics and furniture. The complex allowed him and his family to stay in another apartment.

"As soon as I saw the water go inside the unit, our apartment, I just (lifted) everything up so it would not get damaged," Bautista said.

Nykia Burdine, who lives in a third-floor apartment, said she is now without power, because electricity was shut off as a safety precaution.

"They cut our electricity, which I understand," she said. "They don't want anything dangerous to happen."

Orange County Fire Rescue tweeted the estimated break was 12 to 24 inches.

Video from Skywitness 9 showed water bubbling from the ground and streaming into a nearby apartment complex near International Drive and Meadow Bend Loop.

Firefighters said there was significant flooding in several first-floor apartments. Crews had shut off power to the entire building as a safety precaution.

Images from Skywitness 9 showed crews closing lanes on International Drive.

Location of the water main break:

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