Earthquake safety in Almaty: which building to choose when buying an apartment

All of Almaty lies in a seismic hazard zone of 9–10 intensity points, so when buying an apartment the building's structure matters more than the view. Monolithic concrete and frame buildings built to modern standards perform best; the most vulnerable stock is adobe, unreinforced brick and small blocks. Before the deal, check the year of construction, the wall material, any alterations and, if the building is in the foothills, the landslide risk.

In short

Almaty lies in a seismic hazard zone of 9–10 points; according to the mayor (2023), everything above Abay Avenue is in the 10-point zone
Almaty's seismic microzoning map has been approved since 01.07.2021, but detailed data is not made public
Seismic audits in 2017–2018 and 2023–2024 checked more than 21,000 buildings, and 26% were found not to be earthquake-resistant
On 23 January 2024, tremors from a magnitude 6.7 earthquake on the Kyrgyzstan–China border were felt in Almaty at 5 points
Since 01.03.2025, buildings in Almaty's foothills and seismically hazardous zones can be no higher than 3 storeys, and since 29.10.2025 there has been a moratorium on apartment complexes there
On 22.04.2026 the Ministry of Industry and Construction approved rules for certifying buildings in seismic zones

How dangerous are earthquakes in Almaty?

The city sits at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, in a seismically active zone. The whole territory is classed as a 9–10 point zone, and the districts above Abay Avenue, according to the mayor in 2023, are in the 10-point zone. Below Raiymbek Avenue there's a different problem: high groundwater, which behaves worse than dense soil under strong shaking.

Strong earthquakes have hit here before, and in January 2024 the city felt tremors of 5 points from a magnitude 6.7 earthquake 264 km from Almaty. There was no damage then, but demand for insurance and questions about building safety shot up.

There's no need to panic, and no reason to ignore it either. The risk is manageable if you choose a building with care.

Which buildings in Almaty are safest in an earthquake?

Builders interviewed by zakon.kz after the 2024 tremors named buildings made of adobe, brick and small blocks as the most dangerous, and monolithic concrete complexes as the safest. An expert speaking to digitalbusiness.kz in 2025 said the same: only monolithic or frame construction suits Almaty, and reinforced ring beams and seismic design are mandatory.

Monolithic concrete and monolithic frame

A reinforced concrete frame works as a single system and absorbs vibration. The word "monolithic" in an advert guarantees nothing; you need to look at quality: concrete grade, reinforcement, stiffening cores, seismic joints between sections.

Panel buildings

According to an old 2008 forecast cited by Krisha.kz, large-panel buildings should suffer less than many others in a 9-point earthquake. That's a dated study, and nobody can vouch for the condition of the joints in a particular building after 40–50 years.

Old brick buildings

Brick withstands earthquakes only with reinforced masonry and ring beams. Soviet-era residential buildings were not reinforced on a large scale: in the 1980s it was mostly hospitals and schools that were strengthened. I treat brick buildings from before the 1990s, and especially those from before the mid-1960s, as a risk zone.

How to check a building's earthquake resistance before buying

Only a specialised organisation can carry out a full assessment, but a buyer can do a basic check themselves. I do it at every viewing.

Year of construction and building series: look in the technical passport and the registry extract
Wall material and type of structure: monolithic, frame, panel, brick
The design seismic rating in a new build's documents and a positive design review
Whether the building is on the city's or the OSI's (owners' association) list for strengthening or demolition
Alterations: walls removed by neighbours and especially by ground-floor commercial units
Cracks: diagonal ones near window and door openings, along panel joints, in the basement
For a new build: number of floors within the regulations and a permit issued before the foothill moratorium

The building passport and certification

An apartment's technical passport shows the year of construction, wall material and number of floors. Separately, since 2017 the city has been certifying buildings for earthquake resistance, and on 22 April 2026 the Ministry of Industry and Construction approved general certification rules for seismic zones. Results for specific buildings aren't always published, so ask the OSI and the city architecture department.

What I look at in a building as a former builder

I spent about four years building houses with a construction crew and know where corners get cut. In 2019 I had my own concrete plant in Burunday, so the concrete class and its certificates are not a formality for me. In an earthquake-prone city some things are visible straight away if you know where to look.

First, load-bearing walls. The most common problem in older buildings is renovations more than age. Someone extended their kitchen, someone cut an arch in a load-bearing wall, and on the ground floor a shop removed half the partitions for a shopfront. Every one of these changes weakens the whole block.

Second, heavy screeds and underfloor heating on old floor slabs. Extra weight on a floor works against the building during shaking. Third, loggias and balconies that have been bricked in and turned into rooms.

Landslides in the Almaty foothills: where is the risk higher?

The upper part of the city costs more because of the air and the views, but the slopes carry their own risk. In February 2024 a mudslide on Olimpiyskaya Street in Tau-Samal killed a family. Back in 2018 the authorities counted 189 landslide-prone sites in the Almaty area and linked the growing risk to building on the slopes.

That's partly why the city limited buildings in the foothills to 3 storeys from 1 March 2025 and introduced a moratorium on apartment complexes from 29 October 2025. Warning signs to look for:

The building stands on a cut slope or next to a retaining wall
Cracks in the foundation, doors and windows sticking
Trees on the slope grow at an angle, the so-called "drunken forest"
There's no proper drainage nearby, and the ground gets waterlogged after rain

Should you insure an apartment in Almaty against earthquakes?

Yes, if the apartment is a significant part of your capital. A policy that covers earthquakes costs around 0.1–0.25% of the property's value a year, according to insurers. That's less than a month's rent on the same apartment.

Two caveats. Some insurers won't cover buildings from before the mid-1960s, wooden ones or those with reed-panel frames. And as of October 2026, compulsory disaster insurance for housing hasn't been introduced in Kazakhstan: the bill is still being prepared for submission to Parliament. I cover policies, prices and the fine print in the guide on property insurance.

This is general information. Legal and tax details depend on your status, so before any deal I confirm them with a notary and a lawyer.

I'll check the building before you buy

Send me the address or a link to the listing. I'll look at the year of construction, the structure and any alterations, and tell you how well the building suits earthquake-prone Almaty.

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Questions and answers

What is Almaty's seismic zone rating?

The whole city is in a 9–10 point zone. According to the mayor in 2023, districts above Abay Avenue are in the 10-point zone. A detailed microzoning map was approved in 2021 but hasn't been fully made public.

Which buildings in Almaty can withstand a strong earthquake?

The most reliable are monolithic concrete and frame buildings built to modern standards with seismic design. The most vulnerable are adobe, unreinforced brick and small blocks. The type of building guarantees nothing on its own: what counts is the quality of the specific building, so the documents and an assessment matter.

Is it dangerous to buy an apartment in an old building in Almaty?

The risk is higher, especially in brick buildings from before the 1990s and those from before the mid-1960s: residential buildings weren't reinforced on a large scale. Check the series, alterations and cracks. Keep in mind that such apartments are harder to insure and sell.

Can high-rises be built in Almaty?

Since 1 March 2025, in seismically hazardous zones and the foothills south of the Eastern Ring Road, Al-Farabi, Sain and Zhandosov, buildings can be no higher than 3 storeys or 12 metres. Between Abay and Al-Farabi up to 9 storeys are allowed. In the foothills there's been a moratorium on new apartment complexes since 29.10.2025.

How can I find out whether my building in Almaty is earthquake-resistant?

Start with the technical passport: year of construction, wall material. Ask the OSI and the city architecture department whether the building is on any list from the certification process. For a definitive answer you need an assessment by a specialised organisation.

Is earthquake insurance compulsory in Kazakhstan?

Not as of October 2026. The financial regulator (ARDFM) said a bill on compulsory housing insurance against natural disasters would be submitted to Parliament in October 2026. For now insurance is voluntary and costs around 0.1–0.25% of the property's value a year.

Where in Almaty is there a landslide risk?

In the foothills, on cut slopes and near retaining walls, especially in Medeu district. In 2018 the authorities counted 189 landslide-prone sites in the Almaty area. Before buying a home up the hill, look at the terrain, drainage and cracks in the foundation.