One dead, two hospitalized after Novosibirsk mall collapses
Special equipment operates at the scene, and the building«s power has been cut.
On 21 January 2026, a two-story shopping center at 26 Naumova Street in the Pervomaysky district of Novosibirsk collapsed. The building folded in half. Here is everything known about the incident.
More than 350 specialists and 70 pieces of equipment are involved in the cleanup efforts.
NGS monitored the events as they unfolded. According to eyewitnesses, a loud crash was heard first, after which the building«s facade began to collapse. Some visitors managed to run out of the premises just seconds before the collapse.
A heavy accumulation of snow was present on the roof.
Initially, it was reported that two victims were hospitalized with injuries of varying severity. Later, rescuers found another person under the rubble. Despite medics« efforts, they could not save him — the man died in the ambulance.
One of the people rescued from the collapse has died.
Units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), ambulance teams, police, and prosecutors worked at the scene. Rescuers cleared the rubble by hand and with machinery, while also clearing the area, including removing snow from the damaged structures to reduce the risk of further collapses.
The district prosecutor and emergency services were dispatched to the incident site.
According to preliminary data, one of the causes of the emergency may have been excessive snow load on the building«s roof. The structure was originally a one-story car wash and was later extended to two stories.
Around 15 people were inside the mall«s grocery store, with others on the second floor; one shop assistant made it to the stairs.
It is known that the building was constructed without authorization by Sergei T. The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on grounds of providing services that do not meet safety requirements. The prosecutor«s office is checking compliance with building operation norms.
The shopping center is located within a residential neighborhood.
The shopping center housed various retail outlets, including a grocery store, clothing departments, and food service establishments. Both employees and visitors were inside at the time of the collapse. At the time of publication, rescuers had completed the cleanup operation.
Clothing from a second-floor store is visible protruding from the damaged structure.
The building initially served as a car wash before being expanded.
Search and rescue operations continued for several hours.
Snow load is being considered as a possible factor in the collapse.
This is not the building«s first structural issue, as a previous roof collapse had been repaired.
Construction of the second floor began in 2017 and was finished by August of that year.
Emergency crews cut through sections of the roof during their work.
Two women were located under the debris and transported to a hospital.
One injured person was secured on a stretcher and lowered using an excavator bucket.
Parts of the collapsed structure landed on parked vehicles.
Rescuers periodically called for moments of silence to listen for survivors.
Cars parked near the shopping center sustained significant damage.
