Overloaded Elevator Plummets 50 Feet in Dagestan High-Rise, Four Men Injured

A crowded elevator in a Makhachkala apartment tower descended abruptly from the fourth floor to the ground, a drop of about 50 feet, after nine occupants entered the car, surpassing the allowed six-person capacity. Video footage captured passengers being thrown against each other and the cabin floor. First-responders arrived quickly, and the regional health ministry reported that four of the riders sustained broken legs, though their lives are not in danger.

The structure, finished in 2021, never obtained a commissioning certificate, leading Dagestan’s housing authority to scrutinize the building’s legality and safety standards. Authorities have launched a criminal investigation through the Investigative Committee for alleged breaches of safety regulations. The incident highlights concerns over unauthorized high-rise construction, of which the building is said to be one of about 180 in the region.