Romanian authorities have mobilized international support to assess and address the emergency situation at the Praid Salt Mine, recently closed due to flooding and a potential collapse risk. Raed Arafat, head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), announced on Tuesday evening that expert teams from Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Hungary will begin arriving in Romania starting Wednesday to assist local specialists.
The international delegation will evaluate three key concerns: whether there is any risk to residents in the area, what the environmental impact is, and what the future holds for the salt mine itself.
“We had a videoconference this evening with the European Commission and the eight selected experts who will support our Romanian teams. The experts will begin arriving tomorrow afternoon and will remain for several days to work jointly with our specialists,” Arafat said during a televised appearance on Antena3. “Their final recommendations will be submitted to the Prime Minister and the government for decision-making in alignment with their findings.”
Romania has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to receive support for dealing with the critical situation. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the DSU formally requested specialized personnel and equipment from the European Commission to perform a detailed assessment of the mine’s condition.
According to Minister of Economy Bogdan Ivan, the request aims to ensure that “no resources are wasted on ineffective solutions” and that past local-level mistakes are not repeated. “We must ensure that every euro invested contributes directly to resolving the crisis,” he added.
In parallel, Environment Minister Mircea Fechet traveled Tuesday night to Praid in Harghita County, planning a joint visit Wednesday morning with Economy Minister Ivan and officials from relevant agencies. The visit’s goal is to directly coordinate field operations and monitor the ongoing interventions.
The Praid Salt Mine has been closed due to significant flooding that raised the risk of collapse in the older sections of the mine. Efforts are underway to divert the Corund River, which poses a continuing threat to the mine’s structure. Technical discussions will also take place on-site with local and international experts to determine next steps and ensure the allocation of necessary resources.
Works for waterproofing Corund stream river kick off
The Prefect’s Institution – Harghita County informed, on Tuesday, regarding the management of the emergency situation at Salina Praid, that the land preparation works for the waterproofing of the Corund stream diversion channel have begun, and the construction company has assured that the stream diversion works on corrugated pipes with a diameter of Dn2000, anchored in the slope, will be completed on July 1. The Prefect’s Institution – Harghita County informed, on Tuesday, regarding the management of the emergency situation at Salina Praid, that the land preparation works for the waterproofing works of the Corund stream diversion channel have begun, and the construction company has assured that the stream diversion works on corrugated pipes with a diameter of Dn2000, anchored in the slope, will be completed on July 1.
According to a press release sent by the Harghita Prefecture, in the operational meeting of the institutions involved in managing the emergency situation at the Praid Salt Mine on the afternoon of June 3, 2025, it was established that a representative of the Territorial Labor Inspectorate will go to the site on Wednesday, to ensure that all work in the mining area is carried out in compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.
“Today, the regional operator that ensures the supply of drinking water to consumers in the Praid commune communicated that the water supplied is drinkable and safe for domestic consumption, according to the analyzes carried out in May and June. The water intake for the Praid commune is located upstream of the mining area of the salt mine,” the source mentions.
The Mureş Water Basin Administration (ABA) is also carrying out controlled evacuations from the Bezid reservoir, Mureş County, to dilute the high salt concentrations in the Târnava Mică River, after values were recorded that were almost twice the permitted limit for drinking water at the Târnăveni intake, the Harghita Prefecture press release states. In order to avoid any danger, the population evacuation measure remains in force, with the two fixed gendarme posts and the mixed mobile patrols of the MIA structures being maintained. Access to the area is restricted, and the area will be subject to patrolling by the MIA structures, the press release states.
“The authorities are constantly monitoring the evolution of the situation, and the measures implemented so far offer complete safety for both locals and people transiting the area,” the Harghita Prefecture press release also states.