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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.
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Who are the main contenders in Romania's presidential election re-run?
FILE PHOTO: Former Romanian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Victor Ponta attends an interview with Thomson Reuters, ahead of May presidential ballot re-run, in Bucharest, Romania, April 7, 2025. Inquam Photos/George Calin via REUTERS/File Photo An electoral poster of Crin Antonescu is seen on a wall ahead of Romania's presidential elections, in Bucharest, Romania, April 29, 2025. REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu Three men pass by a poster of Nicusor Dan ahead of Romania's presidential elections, in Bucharest, Romania, April 29, 2025. REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu A motorcycle passes by electoral posters of Nicusor Dan and George Simion ahead of Romania's presidential elections, in Bucharest, Romania, April 29, 2025. REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu Presidential candidates George Simion, Elena Lasconi, Nicusor Dan and Crin Antonescu pose for a family photo at the start of a presidential debate hosted by Digi24 TV station in Bucharest, Romania, April 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via REUTERS Who are the main contenders in Romania's presidential election re-run? BUCHAREST - Romanians vote in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, with a second round run-off expected to be held on May 18. There are 11 candidates vying for the presidency, whose powers include oversight of foreign policy and defence spending. These are the main contenders: GEORGE SIMION The 38-year-old leader of the radical right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) leads in opinion polls. He opposes military aid to Ukraine, is critical of the European Union's leadership and a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump. He has supported restoring Romania to its 1940 borders, which include territories now in Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine, and is banned from entering the latter two. A conservative Christian, he supported a failed 2018 referendum to change Romania's constitution to prevent same-sex couples from ever being able to marry. Election authorities are looking into his campaign funding after he reported zero funds spent on online promotion despite evidence of paid content on social media platforms. He is also under scrutiny for potentially breaching privacy rules after Romanian pensioners were sent a letter on his behalf. CRIN ANTONESCU The 65-year-old former leader of the ruling coalition Liberal Party became a lawmaker in 1992 and has held political positions throughout his career until he retired from politics a decade ago. He is backed by the leftist Social Democrats (PSD), his Liberals and the ethnic Hungarian party which make up Romania's pro-western coalition government. In 2012, alongside Victor Ponta, another presidential candidate who was then prime minister and PSD leader, Antonescu attempted to overthrow then centrist President Traian Basescu, which raised concerns over the rule of law in Brussels. Antonescu briefly served as interim president but the impeachment referendum against Basescu ultimately failed. After retiring from politics, Antonescu lived in Brussels with his wife Adina Valean, a member of the European Parliament who served as the EU's transport commissioner. Antonescu supports increase defence spending and supporting Ukraine while remaining firmly anchored in the EU and NATO. He supports the introduction of civil unions for same-sex couples. NICUSOR DAN Dan, 55, is a two-term mayor of capital Bucharest running as an independent centrist on an "Honest Romania" ticket with a staunch pro-EU and NATO stance. The French-educated mathematician turned to activism to protect heritage buildings in the capital Bucharest before entering politics. He is campaigning on an anti-corruption ticket, eliminating red tape and merit-based reform of public administration. He has been criticised for his relationship with businessman Mihai Paun, a longtime collaborator. Paun has in the past praised Russian President Vladimir Putin on social media and has had business dealings in Belarus and Russia. Dan supports increasing defence spending to 3.5% of economic output in stages by 2030, from just over 2% in 2024, and supports Ukraine. VICTOR PONTA Ponta, 52, is a former leftist prime minister whose politics have turned ultranationalist. Ponta, who quit as prime minister in 2015 after a deadly nightclub fire, and whose first presidential bid in 2014 was thwarted by his government's bureaucratic hurdles to voting by Romanians abroad, has said he backs what he calls "radical change" taking place in the United States. He said he would support increasing Romanian defence spending to over 3% of economic output in 2026. He does not support the introduction of civil unions for same sex couples. ELENA LASCONI The 52-year-old mayor of the town of Campulung, in central Romania, Lasconi was the runner-up in the presidential election that was cancelled in December over accusations of Russian meddling in favour of the far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu. Lasconi has since lost support in opinion surveys. Executive members of her own party, the centre-right opposition Save Romania Union (USR), have withdrawn support for her in favour of Dan. Lasconi believes in increasing defence spending and helping Ukraine. She has called the election cancellation a coup. She supports civil unions for same-sex couples, although she opposes legalizing marriage. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
