Following heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding that heavily affected Romania’s Praid Salt Mine, Romanian authorities activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism requesting experts specialising in rock mechanics and salt mines.
A team of 8 European experts will be deployed for 1 week to help analyse the situation on the ground. The team will consist of 2 environmental specialists, 4 geologists and 2 civil engineers from Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Spain.
Accompanied by a Liaison Officer from the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), the team will also work alongside national experts to draw up a roadmap for restoringthe mine to its normal state and to assess potential risks to the inhabited area above the site.
The ERCC has been in constant contact with the Romanian authorities since the onset of the emergency and remains available to mobilise further assistance if needed.
Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said: “It was painful to witness the destruction of such a beautiful and historic site. The people of Praid are not alone in their recovery efforts – they can count on European solidarity. Thank you to all the countries that have offered their support without hesitation.”
