A building that used to house a sewing workshop collapsed in downtown Balta

In the very center of Balta, a building that once housed a sewing workshop collapsed in a matter of seconds. Before the collapse, eyewitnesses noticed cracks in the walls, and emergency services quickly arrived at the scene and cordoned off the dangerous area.

This was reported by the Balta City TerritorialCommunity.

An emergency occurred in the Odesa region—a former garment factory building, located in the center of Balta near the fountain, collapsed.

According to eyewitnesses, cracks appeared in the building’s walls before the collapse and quickly grew larger. Due to structural deformation, windows began to shatter, causing concern among people nearby.

Within a few minutes, the head of the municipal utility “Balta-Blahoustriy,” State Emergency Service responders, police officers, and gas utility representatives arrived at the scene. They responded promptly to the threat and secured the area around the collapsed building.

According to witnesses, events unfolded very rapidly. It took about 20 minutes from the first visible signs of collapse to the complete collapse, while the building itself collapsed in practically a matter of seconds.

At this time, there is no official information regarding the causes of the collapse or possible casualties. A statement from the relevant authorities is expected following an inspection of the scene. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses are posting videos capturing the moment of the collapse and its aftermath.

In April, a court in Odesa seized assets in a case involving the possible embezzlement of budget funds during major housing renovations. According to the investigation, employees of the City Council’s Department of Municipal Services, the relevant deputy commission on housing and communal services, as well as the utility companies “ZhKS ‘Porto-Frankivskyi’” and “ZhKS ‘Chornomorskyi’” are implicated in the alleged abuses.  The losses are estimated at over 80 million hryvnias for the years 2024–2025.

Анна Бальчінос