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The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Romanian officials reroute flooded stream away from Praid salt mine
A drone view shows the Corund river flooding portions of the Praid salt mine and sink holes that have formed, near the village of Praid, Harghita, Romania, June 2, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Romanian officials were rerouting a stream in central Romania to prevent further flooding of the Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves and a crucial tourist attraction, after parts of its floor caved in. Authorities evacuated 45 households near the mine areas at risk of collapse after the worst floods in 30 years in the central Romanian county of Harghita have swollen the nearby stream. While part of the mine has been producing salt, with an annual production capacity of around 70,000-100,000 metric tons, its huge galleries and medical centre attract half a million tourists each year. On Monday, the government approved support schemes worth 300 million lei ($67.82 million) for immediate help to the state-owned mine as well as up to 200 local companies that will be affected from the loss of tourism. European experts were also expected on site to assess potential solutions to save the mine. ($1 = 4.4234 lei) (Reporting by Luiza Ilie, Editing by Louise Heavens)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Romanian officials reroute flooded stream away from Praid salt mine
Romanian police stand guard on a road leading to the Praid salt mine after the Corund river flooded portions of the mine, near the village of Praid, Harghita, Romania, June 2, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS A drone view shows the Corund river flooding portions of the Praid salt mine near the village of Praid, Harghita, Romania, June 2, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS A drone view shows the Corund river flooding portions of the Praid salt mine, near the village of Praid, Harghita, Romania, June 2, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS A drone view shows the Corund river flooding portions of the Praid salt mine and sink holes that have formed, near the village of Praid, Harghita, Romania, June 2, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS A drone view shows the Corund river flooding portions of the Praid salt mine and sink holes that have formed, near the village of Praid, Harghita, Romania, June 2, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS BUCHAREST - Romanian officials were rerouting a stream in central Romania to prevent further flooding of the Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves and a crucial tourist attraction, after parts of its floor caved in. Authorities evacuated 45 households near the mine areas at risk of collapse after the worst floods in 30 years in the central Romanian county of Harghita have swollen the nearby stream. While part of the mine has been producing salt, with an annual production capacity of around 70,000-100,000 metric tons, its huge galleries and medical centre attract half a million tourists each year. On Monday, the government approved support schemes worth 300 million lei ($67.82 million) for immediate help to the state-owned mine as well as up to 200 local companies that will be affected from the loss of tourism. European experts were also expected on site to assess potential solutions to save the mine. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
7 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Heavy floods threaten Romania's Praid salt mine, a tourism magnet
The swollen Corund river spills down inside the Praid Salt Mine following increased levels due to floods, in Harghita, Romania, May 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS PRAID, Romania (Reuters) -Severe floods in Romania are threatening to destroy the Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves which attracts half a million tourists each year with its spectacular galleries housing an adventure park and chapel carved in salt. Authorities have shut down the mine as the worst floods in 30 years in the central Romanian county of Harghita have swollen a nearby stream, further flooding part of the mine. The floods are threatening to destroy the livelihood of people in the town of Praid who have relied on tourism centred around the salt mine for decades, local authority officials said. "A problem with the salt mine can have catastrophic consequences for the entire region," said Csongor Zsombori, head accountant at the Praid branch of the state-controlled National Salt Company S.A. which partly owns the mine. While part of the mine has been producing salt, with an annual production capacity of around 70,000-100,000 metric tons, its huge galleries which also house a medical centre, receive tourists, including for medical treatment for respiratory diseases. Laszlo Nyagrus, mayor of Praid, said the miners have removed their equipment and machines and were working to preserve another part of the mine which has not been open to visitors so far. "They are trying to save this area, these galleries, by building so-called sluices and dams to protect it, so that at least this part ... will not be damaged," he said. "We need to look at what can be done very quickly in the tourism sector, what opportunities can be explored or should be explored, so that we can retain as many tourists as possible in Praid." (Reporting by Emoke Kerekes;Writing by Krisztina Than; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Heavy floods threaten Romania's Praid salt mine, a tourism magnet
The riverbed of Corund river just after the point where the river spills down inside the Praid Salt Mine following increased levels due to floods, in Harghita, Romania, May 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS The riverbed of Corund river just after the point where the river spills down inside the Praid Salt Mine following increased levels due to floods, in Harghita, Romania, May 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS The entrance of the Praid Salt Minea, in Harghita, Romania, May 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS The swollen Corund river spills down inside the Praid Salt Mine following increased levels due to floods, in Harghita, Romania, May 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS The swollen Corund river spills down inside the Praid Salt Mine following increased levels due to floods, in Harghita, Romania, May 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS PRAID, Romania - Severe floods in Romania are threatening to destroy the Praid salt mine, one of Europe's largest salt reserves which attracts half a million tourists each year with its spectacular galleries housing an adventure park and chapel carved in salt. Authorities have shut down the mine as the worst floods in 30 years in the central Romanian county of Harghita have swollen a nearby stream, further flooding part of the mine. The floods are threatening to destroy the livelihood of people in the town of Praid who have relied on tourism centred around the salt mine for decades, local authority officials said. "A problem with the salt mine can have catastrophic consequences for the entire region," said Csongor Zsombori, head accountant at the Praid branch of the state-controlled National Salt Company S.A. which partly owns the mine. While part of the mine has been producing salt, with an annual production capacity of around 70,000-100,000 metric tons, its huge galleries which also house a medical centre, receive tourists, including for medical treatment for respiratory diseases. Laszlo Nyagrus, mayor of Praid, said the miners have removed their equipment and machines and were working to preserve another part of the mine which has not been open to visitors so far. "They are trying to save this area, these galleries, by building so-called sluices and dams to protect it, so that at least this part ... will not be damaged," he said. "We need to look at what can be done very quickly in the tourism sector, what opportunities can be explored or should be explored, so that we can retain as many tourists as possible in Praid." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
