INFP, about the 1977 earthquake: We must understand that such an event, if not even stronger, will take place in Vrancea / INTERACTIVE MAP

The National Research-Development Institute for Earth Physics presents the terrible balance of the earthquake of March 4, 1977 and warns that “an event like this, if not even stronger, will take place again in Vrancea”.

Saturday, at 21.22, marks the 46th anniversary of the 1977 earthquake, in which more than 1,500 people died.

INFP presents the terrible balance sheet of the earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 degrees, which caused the greatest seismic losses in the history of Romania. 90% of the victims were in Bucharest, mainly due to the total or partial collapse of 32 buildings – most of them built in the interwar period.

Official data shows that:

• 1,578 people lost their lives nationally (1,424 in Bucharest)
• 11,321 people were injured (7,598 in Bucharest)
• 120 victims were in Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova
• 32,900 homes were severely damaged and 182,000 were less damaged, nationally
• 200,000 people were directly affected, with 350,000 families left homeless
• 763 industrial units were affected
• 11 hospital buildings became non-functional – 9 being in Bucharest, including buildings of Floreasca and Colentina hospitals
• 6 university buildings, 374 educational units and 763 economic units were damaged
• 23 counties were seriously affected

INFP representatives warn that “such an event, if not even stronger, will take place in Vrancea”:

• “We know that all these data are shocking, but we must understand that such an event, if not even stronger, will take place in Vrancea again.
• We cannot (for now) predict it, but regardless of this ability, we still need to be prepared for it – starting with ensuring the safety of the buildings we are in, but also with an action plan before, during and after the earthquake”.

INFP publishes and Interactive map “Seismic risk of Bucharest”.

The representatives of the institution specify that “the data inevitably present a partial picture of the situation. Only individually expertized buildings with a high degree of seismic vulnerability, according to the AMCCRS public list, are placed on the map”.

The application was developed by Toma-Dănilă Dragoș, scientific researcher at the National Research and Development Institute for Earth Physics (INCDFP).