The Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) has reported three injured after a section of a residential building collapsed in Astrakhan. The building, which was scheduled for demolition in April, had not been fully evacuated at the time of the incident, according to the governor.
A stairwell in the old five-story building at Lyakhova Street, 6, gave way, causing significant damage to several apartments as ceilings collapsed from the first to the fifth floor. No fire was reported. Emergency services are actively working at the scene to clear the debris. Sixteen people were evacuated, and while there are no confirmed fatalities, one person with limited mobility was hospitalized.
Initially, a domestic gas explosion was considered a possible cause of the collapse. However, the dispatch service later debunked this theory, confirming that no explosion or gas leak was detected. The risk of further structural failure at the site remains. Anastasia Andreyko, a correspondent for GTRK «Lotos» in Astrakhan, provided an update:
“Around 12:12 PM, the MES duty post received a report about a partial collapse of the building at Lyakhova Street, 6. Approximately 100 rescuers and over 28 units of equipment are currently on site. We have been informed by the Astrakhan Oblast MES that an operational headquarters, including all emergency services, has been established. The Governor of Astrakhan Oblast and the regional Minister of Health have arrived, ordering the deployment of additional forces and resources for emergency liquidation. Fifteen people were evacuated in the initial phase, and I see a vast number of rescuers who have already begun clearing the debris.”
Background of the Building
The collapsed building, constructed in 1962, is over 60 years old. It is a brick five-story structure with three entrances. For years, local residents had complained about a constantly flooded basement. In 2020, the building was officially declared dilapidated and was scheduled for demolition by April 1, 2025.
Astrakhan Oblast Governor Igor Babushkin stated that 94 out of 131 units in the building had been vacated. Irina, a hotel owner from an adjacent building, spoke to Business FM about the ongoing issue of the flooded basement:
“We came out and saw fire trucks, police, and all the services here, even the governor, everyone was here. The entire section collapsed. What else can you expect when such buildings are standing here? They’re sinking. The management company just changes its name every six months, and that’s it; nobody cares about anything. These are five-story buildings from the 70s.”
Asked if her hotel building was roughly the same age as the collapsed one, she replied: “No, that one is older, ours is a bit newer. But ours is well-maintained; we maintain it, we dry out the basements ourselves, as the owners of this hotel. No one cares about that building; it’s all abandoned. It used to be a dormitory, and everything there is neglected; the basement has water up to your waist. While our building is looked after, painted, everything is done outside and inside—we, the owners, do it.”
Regarding gas supply in the building: “I don’t know. We don’t have gas in our building. My hotel, for example, doesn’t have gas. Some say the middle section collapsed, others say the far one, closer to the hotel. And right next to it is the next building—our television, our radio. I didn’t hear any explosions; I’ve been here since 9 AM.”
On how the incident started: “Yes, I saw people running in the street and went out to see what was happening.”
About the residents: “The building is abandoned, partially vacated, one could say; it should have been demolished long ago. And next to it, on the side, also within the courtyard, stands another similar building.”
When informed that the house was recognized as hazardous in 2020 and subject to demolition no later than 2024, she responded: “No, it’s still standing. And they even managed to open a fighting club on the first floor. There`s always water around that building, not near ours, but in the other direction, behind the rubbish bins; it’s always a swamp there.”
On whether that erodes the foundation: “Probably, I think so.”
Response and Investigation
An operational headquarters has been established at the collapse site. A temporary shelter for those affected has been set up at School No. 8. Astrakhan Mayor Igor Redkin confirmed, “All necessary assistance, including organized meals, will be provided there.”
The Governor of Astrakhan Oblast has ordered an inspection of the structural integrity of all surrounding buildings. Residing in a building once it is declared dilapidated is prohibited. Moreover, foundation flooding is a typical problem for buildings in Astrakhan, as noted by Konstantin Krokhin, a lawyer and chairman of the Moscow Housing Union:
“The situation with the collapse of a dilapidated house in Astrakhan is not isolated; a similar incident occurred just a few years ago, resulting in fatalities. Therefore, it is highly probable that Astrakhan has numerous dilapidated buildings, a consequence of the existing housing stock`s condition and slow relocation rates. Once a building is declared hazardous, no one should reside in it, regardless of whether they are on a waiting list or moved in later. Dilapidation implies a danger to human life, a risk of collapse. This danger has once again materialized in Astrakhan. Relocation means providing housing, which can be permanent or, in dangerous situations, temporary (emergency housing) to ensure people’s safety. However, currently, many regions face issues with both: providing new housing is often financially unfeasible for regions, and emergency housing is scarce. Social housing, a relic of the Soviet past, is gradually being privatized, moving out of municipal control, and no new social housing is being constructed.”
Regarding residents` repeated appeals and the building`s hazardous status, with foundation erosion now considered the primary cause: “It should be emphasized that foundation erosion is a specific characteristic of Astrakhan. Buildings that collapsed in previous years also had foundation undermining as their cause, and they were declared hazardous for this very reason. In our reality, it is very difficult to declare a building hazardous if there is no structural threat: no cracks, no problems in the walls or foundation. The fact that these Astrakhan buildings were recognized as hazardous indicates objective reasons and genuine danger; otherwise, people would still be living there. Astrakhan specifically struggles with groundwater and sewage overflows; sewage spills occur annually, and all of this seeps into basements, causing unpleasant odors.”
The Investigative Committee is currently working at the collapse site, and the Prosecutor`s Office is conducting its own inspection.
