Earthquake preparedness in Romania

The city of Bucharest is the most earthquake-prone capital within the EU due to its proximity to the Vrancea seismic zone, one of the most active seismic areas in Europe. Yet around 50% of Bucharest’s buildings are not resistant to earthquakes, placing many residents at risk.

To help mitigate the impact of a future earthquake, the Municipality of Bucharest commissioned in 2025 an assessment of the seismic vulnerability of more than 1 000 buildings across the city, thanks to CEB support. The assessment, which is funded by a €500 000 grant from the Disaster Prevention and Recovery Fund, will be used to prioritise investments in structural safety.

The assessment complements the ongoing renovation of seventeen residential and public buildings across the city in line with seismic and energy-efficiency best practices, which was launched in 2024 with the support of a €153 million loan from the CEB. Furthermore, the initiative is expected to pave the way for the renovation and earthquake-proofing of additional buildings, potentially supported by a €100 million CEB loan currently under discussion.

iStock-533497463 Earthquake preparedness in Romania
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