After an unusually rainy month of May, the floor Praid Salt Mine collapsed under a deluge, in an unprecedented severe flooding which has been described as a “historical disaster” by finance minister Tanczos Barna.
Reportedly, a stream was being rerouted to prevent further flooding after parts of its floor caved in.
In response, Romania’s government has approved emergency budget credits of RON 300 million (EUR 60 million) to support recovery efforts, to Salrom, Romania’s state-owned salt producer, as well as companies that operated within the salt mine.
Local people, many of whose livelihood depended on the salt mine, have been left devastated. There will be additional state aid for the tourism and catering industries in Praid commune.
Full damage is still being assessed.
Praid Salt Mine, located in Harghita county, is one of Europe’s biggest salt reserves. But it also operates as a significant tourist attractive, largely for spa purposes.
45 homes were evacuated.
