Heavy rain caused a retaining wall near Voronezh’s Stone Bridge to crumble, triggering a rapid response from city officials and emergency services. The incident was shared on the Telegram channel of the city’s mayor, Vadim Kstenin, as crews moved to the scene.
A serious incident unfolded in the Central District when the heavy downpour led to the collapse of part of the Stone Bridge retaining wall. In a subsequent update, officials reported that all relevant services were already on site and working to secure the area.
The mayor announced that a regional emergency had been declared to mobilize the necessary resources. He emphasized the importance of coordinating closely with regional government services to obtain approvals for work within an area of regional cultural heritage. The priority, he said, was to clear the area, assess the condition of all structures, and then begin restoration work at once.
The Stone Bridge stands as a 19th century architectural monument and a major Voronezh landmark at the junction of Karl Marx and Chernyshevsky streets. Constructed in 1826 by local architect Ivan Blitsyn, it earned national protection status in 1983 and was listed among the region’s archaeological, historical, and architectural monuments.
Locals affectionately refer to the bridge as the city talisman, believing it brings luck to newlyweds. A local legend says that for a strong and joyful marriage, the couple should break a champagne bottle on the bridge and attach name-bearing locks. The bridge also holds a film connection, having hosted scenes from the movie Male and Female Play.
As the day progressed, Voronezh faced continued rain that moved across the city, beginning with the Left-Bank District where street flooding appeared first before spreading to other neighborhoods. The problem extended to building entrances, as storm sewers struggled to handle the torrent.
A resident observed that rainwater drainage has long been an issue. He noted that the northern part of the city remained dry while the left bank experienced flooding. Local authorities were working to address the situation, though some residents felt efforts were insufficient. Drainage systems showed high blockage rates, and funding constraints limited the city’s ability to upgrade equipment. In this context, some residents highlighted the advantage of private sewerage solutions that offered more powerful capabilities than the city’s infrastructure, while expressing frustration with bureaucratic delays.
Traffic in Voronezh slowed dramatically, with the Mashmet area bearing the worst impact. A major jam formed on Ilyushin Street, and vehicles seemed to stagnate on flooded roadways. A resident described the Mashmet region as sinking, noting that while buildings were largely spared, many roads were rendered impassable, a situation described as deeply unfortunate by another local.
Eyewitness accounts from residents reported that Rostovskaya and Novosibirskaya streets were also flooded, and a large tree reportedly fell near a power line at the Shubin bus stop. No injuries were confirmed at the time, though the scene drew close scrutiny from onlookers who described the weather as a powerful illusion of water and wind colliding with the urban landscape.
According to the city’s weather service, the most intense hail lasted only a short time on the outskirts and away from central Voronezh, with observers recording sizable ice pellets. Local media noted that such weather events have occurred before, with April’s floods cited as a recent precedent when manholes could not keep up with the water flow.
Authorities on the ground reported that the traffic police arrived first at the scene. About an hour later a repair crew with equipment followed, bringing a truck with a barrel, two tractors, and a repair vehicle with a turret. However, responders then handed the scene to the emergency ministry teams, who eventually took charge of the restoration efforts and safety assessments.
As the storm eased, the city continued monitoring for further hazards. Residents reported that hail near the city outskirts had been brief but clearly visible, leaving a lasting impression on observers who captured video footage. Local outlets confirmed that the last comparable weather event in Voronezh had occurred in April, when similar flooding overwhelmed street infrastructure and overwhelmed drainage systems, underscoring ongoing challenges in urban storm management.