Deadly Yakutsk heating pipe burst sparks legal battle over negligence

A burst heating pipe in a Yakutsk apartment block led to a fatal accident in February 2025. The incident claimed the life of 63-year-old Yevgenia Kornienko, who suffered severe burns before dying from a heart attack. Her daughter has since pursued legal action against the energy company responsible for the building’s heating system.

The tragedy unfolded on 12 February 2025, when a heating pipe ruptured inside a two-story building on Longinova Street. The structure had been deemed unsafe as far back as 2018, yet remained in use. Yevgenia Kornienko, a resident, sustained critical burns in the accident and later succumbed to a heart attack triggered by the injuries.

Kornienko’s daughter, Anna Smirnova, took legal action against Teploenergiya+, the company managing the heating network. She sought compensation for her own moral suffering and the emotional distress caused to her children. In its ruling, the Yakutsk City Court ordered the company to pay 400,000 rubles to Smirnova and an additional 300,000 rubles for her children’s trauma. Teploenergiya+ has since challenged the decision, filing an appeal with the Supreme Court of Yakutia.

The court’s decision marks a rare case where moral damages were awarded for emotional harm following a fatal heating accident. The outcome places financial responsibility on Teploenergiya+ while the appeal process continues. The building’s prior safety warnings remain a key factor in the ongoing legal dispute.