The Main Department of the State Emergency Service in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast conducted a visual inspection of the multi-story building at Dmytro Yavornytsky Avenue, 10, in Dnipro, and recorded basement flooding, through cracks in the load-bearing walls, and risks of further destruction. Residents of the building claim that the cause is systematic ruptures of the water supply network that serves the Mechnikov Hospital direction.
The letter from the State Emergency Service states:
“As a result of the inspection, signs of basement flooding were found (likely due to systematic ruptures of water-bearing networks). In the absence of proper drainage gutters, water enters under the elements of the foundation apron, which leads to excessive soil moisture around the perimeter of the foundation, provokes local subsidence and suffusion processes, and causes uneven loading of the building’s foundation in the form of sedimentary, disruptive, through cracks along the load-bearing walls throughout the entire height on both sides of the building, with a width of 1 to 10 mm, which can lead to the destruction of the structure and its individual elements.”
Rescuers also noted that the building stands on a slope with an incline of about 15%, which increases the likelihood of soil erosion, uneven foundation settlement, and landslide processes. At the same time, the State Emergency Service emphasized that determining the degree of emergency of the building is not within the service's authority. This requires a full technical inspection and engineering-geological surveys, after which the local self-government body must decide on convening an interdepartmental commission and possibly granting the building emergency status.
Chronology of the problem according to residents
According to residents, water pipe ruptures near the building have been ongoing for several years. Initially, small cracks appeared on the facade, later they began to show inside the apartments — and became increasingly larger. After one of the longest leaks, residents commissioned an independent examination. According to them, the involved expert established that the damage to the building's foundation was caused by external man-made waters — the ingress of liquid from city networks, and not by malfunctions of internal communications.
The last emergency rupture was eliminated, however, as residents claim, an unfilled pit remained on the roadway after the repair. During precipitation, it fills with water, which continues to enter the foundation. The emergency service pumped water out of the wells, but the root cause of the flooding, according to residents, was never eliminated.
Estimate for inspection — 38,676 hryvnias
Residents reported that they have already received an official estimate for a comprehensive technical inspection of the building. A full study, the preparation of necessary drawings, and the expert opinion are estimated at 38,676 hryvnias. According to residents, this document will be the basis for the legal protection of their rights and claims against responsible authorities. In parallel, they urge neighbors to report the situation to the city hotline.
Inquiries to the City Council and "Dniprovodokanal"
The editorial office of 056.ua sent official inquiries to the Dnipro City Council and KP "Dniprovodokanal". The material will be supplemented after receiving responses.
Dnipro: previous experience of flooding and landslides
The problem of soil instability and foundation flooding in Dnipro has a documented history. In 1997, a large-scale landslide occurred in the Topol residential area: hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of soil descended in a matter of hours, completely destroying a multi-story building, a school, two kindergartens, garages, and engineering networks. Casualties were avoided due to timely evacuation. Scientists who studied that catastrophe named complex geological conditions and excessive soil moisture among the key factors.
Landslides in different years were also recorded in other areas of the city — residential buildings, garages, roads, and water pipes were damaged. In 2019, serious deformations were found in the dormitory of "Dnipro Polytechnic"; then, too, the influence of soil moisture near the foundation was mentioned.
Similar cases occurred in other regions of Ukraine. After large-scale floods in Odesa, residents of the private sector reported wall collapses and the activation of landslides, due to which people were forced to leave their homes. In Ivano-Frankivsk region, one of the residential buildings ended up on the edge of a cliff after a landslide destroyed part of the slope under the foundation.
Residents of the building at Dmytro Yavornytsky Avenue, 10, insist that every rain adds a new portion of water to the building's foundation, and a delay in solving the problem increases the risk of irreversible consequences. The final conclusion on the technical condition of the structure should be provided by certified specialists based on the results of a full engineering inspection.
