Burst pipe floods Charlotte apartments; tenants evacuated

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Residents at a west Charlotte apartment complex have been evacuated after a water main pipe burst Sunday evening, officials said.

Officials said a water main broke inside and outside the Arlo Apartments on West Morehead Street around 5:30 p.m. The break left about 2 inches of standing water on the first and second floors.

Arlo Apartment management sent a message to tenants saying they are working with crews to fix the pipe. It's unclear how long residents will be without water.

"You just see a couple drips of water coming down and five minutes later it became a stream," resident Karl Parvez said.

Officials said water has been shut off through the entire building and power has been shut off on the first and second floors only.

It is unknown when the residents on the first and second floor will be allowed back into their apartments, but a few people told Channel 9 they were told it could be close to a month.

People living on the third, fourth or fifth floors will be allowed back into the building and will have power, but will be without water.

Arlo Apartment management also brought CATS buses for residents to wait inside to keep out of the cold and for a place to sit down.

"I'm just hoping the ceiling doesn't cave in. That's my biggest worry because then everything I put on the furniture will be damaged," resident Adolof Urratia said.

Officials said they expect Sheetrock from the ceilings to give due to the water saturation and advised residents to contact their renter's insurance company in advance.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

Cox Media Group