MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A large tree fell on an Ocala apartment building Saturday night, displacing 12 families, according to fire officials.
Ocala Fire Rescue said the tree fell around 8 p.m. onto the Saddleworth Green Apartments at 2901 SW 41st St.
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Fire rescue said the large tree appeared to have been in the process of being cut when it fell.
Officials said the building was cleared and no injuries were reported.
Twelve of the units were damaged and uninhabitable, fire rescue said. Fire rescue said Red Cross assistance was requested for the impacted families.
The same apartment complex was damaged earlier this year when an EF-1 tornado traveled a path of about 25 miles from Dunnellon to Ocala over 28 minutes.
Residents said that the tree was being removed after the tornado caused damage to the property.
“I saw them getting set up. I watched them remove a few branches,” said resident Zachary Ziggas, who told News 6 he watched tree removal workers try to remove the tree Saturday. “(I) went inside for a while and came back out to go to the store, and at that point, a tree was leaning over and had two ropes attached to it.”
Ziggas said that moments later, he was able to record a video that shows part of the tree slamming into one of the buildings.
Fire officials said the tree fell during the removal, adding that parts of the tree had pierced the roof.
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Since the fall, the tree has been taken down and cut into pieces.
According to the Red Cross, no residents have requested assistance for a place to stay.
News 6 has reached out to the apartment complex and the tree removal company, though they have yet to respond.
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