March 3, 2018

41 years since the devastating earthquake of March 4, 1977 will be marked on Sunday

Newsroom, 03.03.2018, 14:14

CONSULTATIONS – Minister Delegate for European Affairs, Victor Negrescu, has announced that the first stage of public consultations on the topics of interest for Romania’s EU Council Presidency has been completed. According to Negrescu, 500 relevant actors participated in the debates, in a bid to contribute to the preparation of a highly important project for the whole society and came up with a lot of constructive ideas that are to be analyzed, in the upcoming period, by the public system representatives. Romania will hold the EU Council Presidency between January 1 and June 30, 2019.

MIGRANTS — Almost 3 thousand illegal migrants were caught at Romania’s western border in 2017. Most of them were from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya. The migrants used several methods to get to the border, such as telephone apps to find the shortest route, or the guidance of other people. In most cases, the ones who guided the illegal migrants to the border were legal migrants who have been living in Romania for a long time.

ARMY – Romania’s Defense Minister Mihai Fifor, has announced that around 64 hundread people will be employed in the army, among whom soldiers, physicians and psychologists. Romania, Minister Fifor has said, needs to strengthen its military capabilities in order to continue to be the most important security supplier in the Black Sea. In this context, Mihai Fifor has announced that the procedure for the construction of four multifunctional corvettes has been launched. The minister also said that the winner of the auction will have to build all four corvettes in a Romanian shipyard.

COMMEMORATION — On Sunday Romania marks 41 years since the devastating earthquake of March 4, 1977, the most powerful that has ever hit Romania. Measuring 7.2 degrees on Richters scale, the earthquake killed 1,570 people, most of them in the capital Bucharest, and caused damages worth over $2 billion. Around 230,000 homes were destroyed or seriously damaged and 760 economic facilities became inoperative. The earthquake generated a severe economic and social crisis, which historians say the communist authorities never fully overcame before their demise in 1989. Specialists warn that hundreds of buildings in Bucharest are at risk in case of a powerful earthquake.

FLU — The number of people who died of flu in Romania since the beginning of the cold season has reached 72, with three more deaths being reported recently. Almost all victims were also suffering from chronic diseases and had not been immunized. Over 800 people are currently being treated for flu. Most of them are in the capital Bucharest, but also in counties like Constanta, Olt, Brasov and Iasi. Health Minister Sorina Pintea says that for the time being we cannot talk about a flu epidemic in Romania.

RUGBY — Romania’s national rugby team are today taking on Russia at home turf in Cluj, northwestern Romania. The match counts towards the third round of the 2018 Rugby Europe International Championship. After losing to Spain in the previous match, Romania needs a win and a bonus point to keep alive its chances of qualifying to the 2019 World Rugby Cup hosted by Japan. Last year in Sochi Romania won 30-10 against Russia. The Romanian team is ranked 16, while Russia is in 20th position. (Translated by Elena Enache)