Expert review finds Astana facade collapse preventable, cites construction defects

September 3, 2026 at 12:30 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A court-ordered technical review found the November 8, 2025 facade collapse at an Astana residential building resulted from accumulated construction defects, including missing reinforced belts and poor masonry. Experts concluded the collapse could have been prevented if cracks first recorded in 2017 had been addressed. The findings were presented during the trial over the death of paramedic Uldana Myrzuan.

Key Facts

The technical review identified missing monolithic reinforced belts, absent or improperly installed reinforcement mesh, and poor mortar filling as primary causes of the facade collapse.
Cracks in wall junctions and local destruction of the facing layer were first recorded in 2017, according to the expert findings.
The collapse occurred on November 8, 2025, at a residential building in Astana, killing paramedic Uldana Myrzuan.
Resident Konstantin Kostenko testified that wind and storm loads from the northwest, combined with non-compliant distances between buildings, contributed to the collapse.

Expert Findings

The court-ordered construction and technical review, conducted in May 2026, concluded that the collapse resulted from a combination of structural defects and violations in the technology of laying external multilayer brick walls. The review listed missing monolithic reinforced belts, absent or improperly installed reinforcement mesh, inadequate anchoring of the facing layer to the load-bearing structure, poor mortar filling, significant crack openings, and gaps between masonry layers as primary causes. Experts also found substantial non-compliance with design, standard, and regulatory requirements, including failure to install design monolithic reinforced belts, substitution of insulation type, and use of silicate brick in conditions where its application is restricted or prohibited. The review stated that the collapse was not the result of a single local cause but of prolonged deformation development and accumulation of damage from construction and installation violations.

Preventability and Timeline

Experts concluded that from a technical standpoint, the collapse could have been prevented through timely identification, correct assessment, and elimination of defects. Cracks in wall junction zones and local destruction of the facing layer were recorded as early as 2017, according to the review. The review noted that with proper monitoring, instrumental inspection, restriction of access to hazardous zones, development of a strengthening project, and repair and restoration measures, the risk of collapse could have been substantially reduced or eliminated. Weather conditions had a secondary, not primary, influence on the collapse, the experts stated.

Court Testimony

Resident Konstantin Kostenko, an engineer by education specializing in water supply and sewerage, testified in the trial over the death of paramedic Uldana Myrzuan. Kostenko stated that wind erosion, rain, and storm loads from the northwest side affected the building's end wall. He also testified that the distance between the nine-story residential building and a three-story commercial building did not meet SNiP standards, which require a minimum of 4.8 to 12 meters. The main trial in the inter-district criminal court of Astana began on August 26, 2026, with the defense filing a motion alleging investigation violations.