Apartment building restored after explosion in Kotelnikovo
In the city of Kotelnikovo, Volgograd Region, the restoration of a five-story building seriously damaged by a domestic gas explosion over two years ago has been completed. According to the regional state housing inspection, this is the first case in Russia where an apartment building after such an emergency was decided to be repaired rather than demolished.
The explosion occurred on October 23, 2023, at building No. 1 on Rodina Street. As a result, one apartment was completely destroyed, and structures in neighboring ones sustained significant damage. The incident led to the deaths of two people: one died on the spot, the other passed away in the hospital eight days later.
The very next day after the emergency, Volgograd Region Vice Governor Oleg Nikolaev announced the intention to restore the building, although no timelines were given at the time. Coordination of the aftermath cleanup work was taken over by the State Housing Inspection, which since the end of summer 2024 has been headed by former district head of Volgograd Valeria Kroman.
The agency explained:
«After studying the materials and documents prepared by a specialized organization, an unprecedented decision was made to carry out work to restore the damaged structures of the house.»And added:
«This is the first case in Russia where a house is being restored after a gas explosion. Usually, such houses are declared emergency and subsequently demolished.»
Over more than two years, design and estimate documentation was developed, and in spring 2025 direct repair and restoration work began.
«The installation of enclosing building structures for the roof and the fifth floor of two stairwells affected by the explosion was fully completed. Work on the roofing cover was carried out, finishing work was done in the apartments and common areas. In December, people were able to return to their fully restored apartments,»the inspection reported.
For comparison, after a gas explosion in December 2015 at building No. 47 on Kosmonavtov Street in Volgograd, the building was demolished and a new one built in its place. And apartment building No. 9 on Titova Street, damaged by an explosion in April 2023, has still not been fully resettled and has turned into an abandoned building looted by marauders.
