The European Union Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) has activated the EMSA satellite imaging services to assist Moldova in detecting and monitoring oil spills in the Nistru river. The measure was taken after the authorities in Chisinau requested the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, reports IPN.
The satellite imaging services of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will provide the first images in the shortest possible time. These will assist authorities in identifying and tracking the spread of pollutants in the water. The technology uses radar and optical images obtained from Earth observation satellites, which are transmitted to ground stations, processed and analyzed and the results are correlated with data about ship traffic and other maritime information.
ERCC manages the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and coordinates the support provided to disaster-stricken states. In 2025, the mechanism was activated 64 times, to respond to situations generated by the war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, vegetation fires in Europe, and storms in Ireland, Cuba, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The Ministry of Environment announced on Monday that in the locality of Naslavcea, the water supply from the Dniester River will remain suspended for at least another 12 hours. The measure also applies to several localities in the districts of Soroca, Balti, Floresti and Sangerei. On March 15, the authorities established a state of environmental alert for 15 days in the Dniester basin, following pollution with petroleum products in the north of the country.
