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23 conscripts crushed to death in roof collapse at military training barracks near Omsk

By 0 and 0 and 0
13 July 2015

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One section of the four-story building at Svetly had completely fallen through. Picture: Telegrafist

Blame was put on poor construction and safety violations for the deaths of the paratroopers, some of them in their teens. Almost 20 injured were airlifted to Moscow for specialist treatment. A section of the roof fell, causing a part of the building to implode. 

'Twenty-three conscripts died, the others were hospitalised with various injuries,' said Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin. 'As a result of the collapse, more than 40 servicemen were injured.'

In an all-night rescue, soldiers formed a chain to pass bricks and other debris from one to another in order to clear the mountain of rubble. The barracks belongs to the  Airborne Forces' 242nd training centre.

President Vladimir Putin was informed of the tragedy. 'The president expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the accident at the Omsk training centre,' a statement read. 

Hundreds of rescuers worked through the night in the search for survivors among the recently recruited conscripts. 

Omsk military barrack


Soldier injured

Soldiers were housed in the building even though completed renovation work had not been approved due to 'violations', it was claimed. Pictures: Telegrafist, VK

Maxim Kolmakov, who survived the horror, said chunks of plaster began falling off the ceilings. 'Everyone started running out of the barracks - and the barracks began falling apart.'

Some soldiers jumped from the second floor on to mattresses to save themselves. Nearly 350 rescue workers and search dogs worked at the scene. 

A probe was underway into negligence, violation of safety rules, and abuse of power. The guilty could face up to 10 years in prison.

A day of mourning was declared in Omsk for Tuesday.  

An anonymous officer told Komsomolskaya Pravda: 'The roof of the building was covered with a thick layer of foam concrete, about half a metre thick. Most likely, somewhere there was a gap or crack and water got inside. Foam soaks up water like a sponge. 

'Apparently, under the weight of accumulated water the roof of the building collapsed - and then the floors collapsed under the overlay, as the building is very old'.

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Comments (6)

Arquitects know better than any of us what was the canse of the accident. Ours is just separe time speculations
Enrique, Spain
15/07/2015 05:24
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Blame was put on poor construction and safety (that's the first words of the article above, now these are the last words) and then the floors collapsed under the overlay, as the building is very old'.

So are the government saying the building was newly constructed, while the anonymous officer is saying the building was/is very old. The pictures show a very newish building except for the gaping hole now in the middle. Let me ask the question like this..."Was the a new shell thrown up around a old building?

Was there no Department safety checks being carried out on this building over time or after the seemingly if we are to believe it? New build? or even after the Old build/plastered over by new build?

PS. I still hold to my guns that there was an explosion at start of this tragedy, & nothing so far has convinced me there wasn't.

My Sympathies to the families of those soldiers who died here.
Jaker, Dundalk
14/07/2015 22:36
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My sympathy for those fortunate enough to be left alive and my sorrow for those who lost their dead.
Jesse Johnson, Medford, Oregon, U.S.A.
14/07/2015 14:40
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My thoughts and prayers for those lost, the injured and all the families.
R. S., CT/USA
14/07/2015 11:24
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Very sad. Safety should always be first priority, but its often impossible to know where and when its been ignored. Sounds like some guys are very lucky to be alive. Greetings from USA.
AK, Philadelphia, USA
14/07/2015 11:16
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The whole building will have to be demolished and a new one has to be build.
Enrique, Spain
13/07/2015 19:06
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