On Tuesday, officials confirmed that the roof of the North Korean embassy’s parking garage on Mosfil’movskaya Street in western Moscow had collapsed under the weight of heavy snowfall. The incident damaged at least ten vehicles, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Russian media outlet NEWS.ru reported that the metal structure of the parking garage at the North Korean embassy gave way around 7:30 p.m. local time on January 30, succumbing to the snow’s weight. The collapse resulted in damage to at least ten parked cars. A North Korean embassy spokesperson stated that there were no casualties, but NEWS.ru noted that the full extent of the damage remains unconfirmed.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, rescue teams from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) arrived at the scene. However, they faced significant limitations in their response due to diplomatic protocols, which prevented them from entering the embassy grounds without explicit permission from embassy officials.
This incident occurred against the backdrop of record-breaking snowfall in the Moscow region. The Russian Meteorological Service reported that Moscow received 92 mm (about 3.6 inches) of snow at the end of January, the highest snowfall recorded in 200 years. The extreme weather caused widespread disruptions across the city, including traffic congestion, power outages, and structural damage to buildings.
The North Korean embassy, one of the oldest diplomatic missions in Moscow, has been operational since the Soviet era, underscoring the long-standing diplomatic ties between the two nations.