Engineer cites wind erosion in Astana facade collapse that killed paramedic Uldana Myrzuan

September 3, 2026 at 01:10 PM2 min

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Engineer Konstantin Kostenko testified in Astana court on September 3, 2026, that wind erosion and storm loads from the northwest contributed to the facade collapse that killed paramedic Uldana Myrzuan. Prosecutor Nurdaulet Abuov read an expert report citing construction defects as the technical cause. Myrzuan died on November 18, 2025, from head injuries sustained while aiding victims of the November 8 collapse.

Key Facts

The facade collapse occurred on November 8, 2025, on Tauelsizdik Avenue in Astana, injuring five people.
Paramedic Uldana Myrzuan died on November 18, 2025, at 10:10 from an open head injury with skull fractures and brain contusion.
The expert report dated May 22, 2026, identified construction defects including missing reinforced belts and poor mortar filling as the technical cause.
Cracks in wall joints and local damage to the facing layer were recorded as early as 2017.

Engineer Testimony

Engineer Konstantin Kostenko, a construction engineer specializing in water supply and sewerage, testified in Astana court on September 3, 2026. He stated that the northwest side of the building, where the collapse occurred, was subjected to wind erosion, rain, and storm loads according to the wind rose. Kostenko's testimony was given during the trial concerning the death of paramedic Uldana Myrzuan.

Expert Findings

Prosecutor Nurdaulet Abuov read an expert report dated May 22, 2026, in court on September 3, 2026. The report concluded that the technical cause was a combination of structural defects and violations in brickwork technology for the outer multilayer walls. Key defects included missing monolithic reinforced belts, absent or improper reinforcement mesh, poor anchoring of the facing layer, and low-quality mortar filling. The prosecutor noted that the collapse was not due to a single local cause but resulted from prolonged deformation and accumulated damage. He added that the collapse could have been prevented with timely detection and repair of defects, as cracks had been recorded since 2017.

Medical Examination

The state prosecutor read the forensic medical examination results for Uldana Myrzuan's body. The examination determined death resulted from an open head injury with skull fractures, hemorrhages under the membranes, and brain contusion. Complications included cerebral edema and dislocation syndrome with brainstem compression. According to medical documents, death occurred on November 18, 2025, at 10:10.