The nine-story apartment building in Otaci town where a stair fully collapsed in the evening of June 19 started to be erected in the 1980s and was finished after 1990. According to preliminary findings, the construction works were performed with irregularities, but it cannot be yet said that the building partially fell down because of this. It is known that the basement of the building was flooded as a result of the recent torrential rain.

Contacted by IPN for details, Piotr Grosu, building specialist at the Otaci mayor’s office, said the dwellers several days ago reported fissures in walls. Specialists carried out examinations and recommended leaving the building. Yesterday, after additional checks were performed, the local authorities ordered to evacuate the dwellers by force. These went to stay mainly with relatives. Several persons were accommodated temporarily at the local school where they are supplied with food, water and other basic necessities.

According to Piotr Grosu, experts from Ocnita district and from Chisinau are expected to come and pronounce on the cause of the collapse.

The building will not be reconstructed and will be demolished.

Nine floors of a stair of the block fell down at about 9:20pm on June 19. There are no victims according to the preliminary reports. As many as 46 people, 11 of whom children, were evacuated from the damaged building several hours earlier. Employees of the Police Inspectorate surrounded the high-risk area to secure the people.

Also read: Stair of nine-story apartment building collapses in Otaci