Terrifying moment packed lift plunges 50ft down high-rise as men thrown to the ground & four break legs in horror fall

THIS is the terrifying moment a lift overloaded with nine men plunges down 50ft in a high-rise building. Alarming footage shows the large group tightly packed together before the lift suddenly gives way, sending them crashing four floors to the ground. A group of men packed into a lift in Dagestan, Russia Credit: East2West The lift suddenly starts to plunge to the ground Credit: East2West Several members of the group were thrown to the floor with four suffering broken legs as the lift fell 50ft to the ground. The elevator had nine people inside instead of the permitted six, officials said. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The horror accident took place in Makhachkala, Dagestan. Emergency services rushed to the scene in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Four of the victims reportedly suffered broken legs Credit: East2West Emergency services rushed to the scene, transporting victims to a nearby hospital Credit: East2West A statement from the regional health ministry said: “Doctors of republican hospitals are busy treating four injured people as a result of a lift crash in an apartment building. “The lives of those injured are not in danger.” The building, completed back in 2021, has never received a commissioning certificate or been formally transferred to the municipality, officials said. To make matters worse, it is one of 180 allegedly unauthorised high-rise buildings identified by the authorities. Most read in The Sun Dagestan’s housing inspectorate said this raised questions about whether the lift was being operated legally, or if it was technically safe. Russia‘s Investigative Committee has since opened a criminal investigation into the incident. This comes after a man cheated death when he narrowly avoided being crushed by a faulty elevator. Vatsalbhai Pancha was stepping out of the lift at his apartment complex when the metal cabin suddenly surged upwards without warning. The violent movement sent him crashing to the ground after he struck his head. Chaotic footage from the Gujarat Housing Board residential complex in Valsad, India, captured the terrifying moment Pancha was left just millimetres from being crushed between the lift and the floor. The doors slide open as normal as Pancha takes half a step out at his chosen floor – before the lift suddenly shoots upwards again. Wearing a pink shirt and black trousers, Pancha barely clears the doors before the shock movement sends him tumbling to the ground. A major electrical fault is reportedly being blamed for the terrifying malfunction. Pancha reportedly suffered internal injuries following the close call. Residents of the 14-storey apartment complex said they heard a loud crash when the lift malfunctioned. Several people rushed to the lift area, where they found Pancha lying on the ground. Comment now