It has been almost a year since the collapse of an apartment building in Otac town, but the investigation initiated into this case in June 2019 continues. The examinations carried out meanwhile showed the block caved in due to the accumulation of water in the building’s basement because of different natural factors and to the excessive moisture in the foundation layer. It was also established that the construction was erected without reinforced concrete belt walls, the building wasn’t properly maintained, the resistance structure was modified for many times, etc.
Contacted by IPN, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General’s Office Maria Vieru said the investigation into this vase was opened by the Ocnița Police Inspectorate on June 20, 2019 over poor-quality of construction works that led to the partial destruction of the building and, respectively, to considerable damage.
The investigative group carried out examinations, seized documents and questioned witnesses. A number of state institutions, asked by prosecutors to provide information, said they do not have documents showing that the given block was designed, built and made available for occupancy.
The Ocnița District Prosecutor’s Office obtained a preliminary report on the technical state of the damaged building and a technical examination report on the block that was later demolished. The conclusions show the high level of moisture in the foundation layer and in the basement caused the components of the porting elements of the basement’s walls to disaggregate and collapse. Besides being erected without reinforced concrete belt walls, the building wasn’t properly maintained and the resistance structure was modified for many times.
“The investigation continues and the PGO will periodically inform the interested persons and civil society about the measures taken and solutions adopted as a result,” stated Maria Vieru.
The then mayor of Otaci Vasile Traghira has told IPN that the 35 families that lived in the damaged building were offered compensations for purchasing houses and things they need in the home. The sums varied between US$12,000 to US$22,000, depending on the area of the owned apartment. Also, the Government provided compensations to another 35 families of the second block where a stair collapsed on June 19 and it was demolished after the technical examination report showed that this cannot be used.
The former mayor noted that the place of the building after demolition is in a state of dereliction. While he held office, he signed an agreement for the building of other homes, but it is not clear at what stage this is now.
On June 19, 2019, a stair in an apartment building in Otaci collapsed. There were no casualties there. The block was later demolished.
