Tashkent Explains Causes of Construction Pit Collapse
Tashkent authorities said construction and safety violations, along with project design flaws, contributed to the collapse of a construction pit in Almazar district.
Tashkent's city administration has attributed the recent collapse of a construction pit on Beruni Street in the Almazar district to multiple factors, including breaches of construction protocols, safety regulations, and a flawed project design that positioned the new structure too close to an existing residential building. This information was conveyed to Gazeta.uz.
The incident took place at a hotel apartment development situated at 102 Beruni Street (formerly No. 43) within the Orzu mahalla. Donmah-Imex LLC is identified as the developer, Aleks Project LLC as the designer, and Lost Planet LLC as the contractor for the project.
As previously reported by the Prosecutor General's Office, the excavation pit's edge and a nearby temporary fence gave way on Sunday. One individual sustained injuries and required hospitalization. A criminal investigation has since been initiated.
According to the city administration, an investigation revealed that the construction firm failed to adhere to the necessary excavation techniques and safety standards during the digging process. This oversight led to soil displacement and the subsequent collapse of the temporary fence into the pit.
The inspection also highlighted deficiencies in the urban planning and design documentation. The approved project specified a 12-meter separation between the construction site and an existing nine-story residential building, which falls short of the 15-meter minimum mandated by current urban planning regulations.
Furthermore, the administration noted that the project did not account for the site's limited size, which made it unsuitable for excavating a pit with sloped sides. Creating such slopes would have necessitated an additional five meters around the perimeter, encroaching upon nearly half of the internal road serving the residential area. Consequently, the pit was dug with vertical walls, deviating from the sloped design outlined in the project.
The city administration explained that this vertical excavation method required the pit walls to be reinforced with reinforced concrete piles, a retaining wall, or other engineering structures. However, these crucial measures were either not implemented promptly or not fully executed, resulting in the soil movement.
Currently, experts from Qishloqqurilishloyiha LLC, Ogirsanoatloyiha JSC, and the UzGASHKLITI research institute are collaborating to devise technical solutions for reinforcing the excavation walls, mitigating the incident's aftermath, and ensuring the safe continuation of construction.
The Tashkent city administration confirmed that the site was previously occupied by Secondary School No. 243. In May 2020, a sale and purchase agreement with investment obligations was signed by the territorial department of the Agency for State Assets Management, the school, and Donmah-Imex LLC. The property was officially registered under the company's name in August 2022.
According to the administration, permission for the reconstruction of existing buildings and the construction of additional facilities was granted in November 2023, with the architectural planning assignment receiving approval in December of the same year.
The working body of the Architecture and Urban Planning Council endorsed the building's location and parameters in February 2025. A positive state expert review was issued in January 2026, and the territorial inspectorate for construction and housing and utilities registered the project on February 19, 2026.
Anhor.uz reported that documents pertaining to the land plot indicate that the former educational facility was sold to the private company without an open auction. The publication stated that the available documents do not clarify the basis for the sale to Donmah-Imex LLC, the selection process for the buyer, or the amount paid by the company for the building and land.
Anhor.uz also highlighted the lack of clarity regarding the investment obligations undertaken by the company, the monitoring of compliance with these obligations, and the rationale behind designating a former educational facility for the construction of hotel apartments. The publication confirmed that it has requested the sale agreement, property valuation materials, payment terms, details of the investment obligations, and documents confirming their fulfillment from the relevant state authorities.
The Tashkent city administration had previously announced the formation of a special commission, at the mayor's directive, comprising representatives from the emergency situations department, the construction inspectorate, the prosecutor's office, the Almazar district administration, and other pertinent agencies. The area has been cordoned off, and specialists are continuing to inspect the surrounding vicinity, utility networks, and road infrastructure.
The Prosecutor General's Office stated that the criminal case is being investigated under Articles 257 (violation of occupational safety rules) and 192-11 (abuse of authority by officials of a non-governmental organization) of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code.