A meeting with officials left fire victims from Nalchik disappointed.

Residents of an apartment building who lost their property in a fire asked officials for temporary housing. However, according to them, authorities limited themselves to promises of 100,000 rubles each and repairs to the building.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," Nalchik residents had previously complained about the authorities' insufficient attention to their problems. For example, on April 26, several people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during a fire in a dormitory on Ashurova Street. The building, which is considered unsafe, has lost power. The authorities are ignoring the need for resettlement; no officials showed up even after the fire, residents said.

Officials' responses did not satisfy the fire victims.

Residents of building No. 241 on Kalmykova Street, damaged by a fire on May 18, reported the results of a meeting with representatives of the Nalchik administration, the newspaper "Gazeta Yuga" reported today.

In particular, Kamilla, who is raising a disabled child, reported that officials promised to pay the families 100,000 rubles each and offered to rent housing with this money until their building was repaired. According to Kamilla, the mayor's office claims the building is not in disrepair and can be restored, but has not given a specific timeframe.

Many people were left with literally nothing.

Valeria Pereyaslova, who suffered smoke inhalation in the fire, reported that the administration plans to restore only the sixth floor and the roof, as well as repair the hallway on the fifth floor. "Many people were left with literally nothing... When we asked what we should do next, where to live, and how we would survive, they told us bluntly: 'Go back to work,'" the publication quotes Pereyaslova as saying.

Earlier, on May 21, the publication reported that Kamilla, who is raising a disabled child, had her sixth-floor apartment burned down, and friends were temporarily sheltering her. Zhanna, a resident of the building, has three children who are staying with relatives because they have nowhere else to live.

Several dozen families were left homeless

Today's publication in the newspaper's Telegram channel is illustrated with two videos. In one of them, a woman who identified herself as the mother of a disabled child describes the problems that arose, while in the other, a young woman says she suffered smoke inhalation during a fire.

In the first video, the woman reports that at a meeting with administration representatives, residents had two questions: when they would receive permanent housing and where they and their families should live now.

"We were told that our building is not in a state of disrepair and that repairs are needed from the first to the sixth floors. Despite the fact that the sixth floor burned completely to the ground, and from the first to the fifth floors, the building is flooded," the woman says in the video.

How will I have to pay for the restoration of all the appliances, furniture, and clothing?

In response to the second question, the woman says, she was informed that the administration had allocated financial assistance – 100,000 rubles each. "Which I haven't seen yet, which they haven't given us yet, we only wrote applications... [The official] personally told me: 'Rent an apartment, you'll have money to rent an apartment for now.' Okay, but how am I supposed to pay for all the appliances, all the furniture, clothes, and rehabilitate my child? No one's answering this question," she said.

In the second video, a young girl makes a statement. "Eleven days after the fire, at a residents' meeting, the Nalchik city administration announced the results of the examination: despite everything that had happened, the building was not deemed unsafe. As of today, 72 families have been left homeless," she said.

The woman emphasized that many lost their money, clothing, and other personal belongings. "Residents are being promised a one-time payment, which, in essence, is being used to rent housing themselves for the first period," she said.

Representatives of the prosecutor's office and the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation attended the meeting with residents.

On May 30, the city administration reported on its Telegram channel about a working meeting with fire victims. In addition to city hall officials, the meeting was attended by the acting The republic's Minister of Construction, the city prosecutor, and representatives of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (ICR) have been identified.

Further steps to provide necessary assistance, including legal support, have been outlined.

"The main focus was on support measures and ways to resolve the current situation related to the damage to housing. Each request from residents was carefully listened to. All issues raised were clarified, and further steps to provide necessary assistance, including legal support, have been outlined. The Nalchik City District Administration will continue to work closely with the affected citizens to minimize the consequences of the fire," the publication states. No further details are provided.

The fire is being investigated under two articles of the Russian Criminal Code.

A criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 100 of the Criminal Code in connection with the fire in the apartment building. 219 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (violation of fire safety requirements) and Part 1 of Art. The republic's Investigative Committee reported on May 19 on its Telegram channel under Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code (provision of services that do not meet consumer safety and health requirements).

A natural gas leak resulted in a gas pipe fire.

"According to the investigation, on May 18, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m., gas company employees were dismantling and replacing a meter in an apartment in a residential building on Kalmykova Street in Nalchik. Due to violations of fire safety requirements and safety regulations during the work, a natural gas leak occurred, leading to a gas pipe fire and a fire. The fire damaged apartments on the fifth and sixth floors of the building," the publication stated.

Five people were hospitalized with signs of smoke inhalation. "The victims include two minors and a gas service worker. Their lives are not in danger," the publication states.