Besides the risk of quakes in Vrancea region of Romania, earthquakes with the epicenter on Moldova’s territory, in the northeastern part of the country, are also recorded. In 1988, a quake occurred near Zăicani village of Râșcani district, measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale, with the felt intensity varying between 1 and 4, Igor Nicoară, director of the Institute of Geology and Seismology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, stated in a public lecturer, being quoted by IPN.
According to Igor Nicoară, in the absence of major tectonic plates, it is presumed that the seismic activity was determined by an artificial accumulation of water near Costești-Stânca. “Seismicity determined by additional burden is seen at some of the large accumulation lakes,” stated the researcher, underlining the necessity of opening a new seismic station near these seismic sources.
Igor Nicoară said the seismic zone Vrancea, at the Curvature Carpathians, remains the biggest danger for Moldova. The maximum intensity of a quake for Moldova’s territory is 8-9. The municipality of Chisinau is situated in an area with the seismicity of 7, but there are areas where seismicity can be of 8. The highest seismicity is in southern Moldova. “In the world, there are special programs for assessing the seismic risk and reducing dangers. In our county, everything is done on the initiative of researchers in the absence of a relevant national program,” he stated.
The researcher noted that the most powerful earthquake in Vrancea in the 19th-21st centuries occurred in 1802. No human losses were suffered then owing to the constructions of that period. The quake of November 10, 1940 resulted in 78 deaths, while that of March 4, 1977 claimed over 1,000 lives. The earthquake of 1986 caused buildings to collapse, with two persons being killed and over 500 hurt, while that of 1990 caused only damage to buildings.
Igor Nicoară said the national network of seismic stations should be extended as the areas with a high seismic risk expanded.
The first major quake in 2020 happened on the night of January 31, at 03:26am. This measured 5.4 on the Richter scale and occurred in Vrancea, Romania.
