Residents of the well-known 'Three Bogatyrs' residential complex in central Almaty have said they fear their buildings could collapse due to construction work that they say has been going on in the basement for a month, infohub.kz reports.
According to KTK television channel, residents of the famous complex fear the buildings could collapse because construction has allegedly been underway in the basement for a month. People claim heavy machinery has even been brought in. Now residents are worried about the structural integrity.
For example, Arsen Tatayev lives with his family on the 12th floor of the complex. He says there has been no peace in his apartment for a month.
"The reconstruction has reached the point where tremors are felt on the 12th floor, you understand? That's how hard they're hammering the load-bearing structures! In other words, the whole building is shaking. That's our whole fear — the constant tremors. They're like mini-earthquakes, you understand? All the residents will confirm this. It already makes us afraid that the building will collapse!" Tatayev said.
While residents of the building are so far only feeling tremors, cracks have already appeared on the walls of the Institute of Archaeology, which is located on the first floor. Staff at the institution say it is all allegedly due to construction equipment operating in the basement.
"During the tractor's operation, I felt as if something was being raised and lowered, that was the sensation. The noise interferes when an employee is working. We do research work here," added Anarali Abuov, caretaker at the A. Margulan Institute of Archaeology.
Residents claim the construction work is going on right in the basement. The area where people used to walk has been fenced off. Now there is construction debris everywhere, and the doors are closed. What is happening inside can only be seen through a window — the walls there have been destroyed.
"I asked them: 'Do you have permits?' They told us: 'Yes, we have them from KazNIISA,'" added Irina Shmalko, chairwoman of the homeowners' association.
Residents do not know how the basement of the building ended up in private ownership. They say there are allegedly plans to set up a climbing wall there. When the work will be completed is unknown.
Outraged residents complained to the akimat and the city's construction control department. Officials promised to investigate and determine whether the construction work is legal.
"An unscheduled inspection is being initiated for the site. We will provide additional information based on the results of the inspection," the Almaty city construction control department said in a brief comment.