The seismic service is now vulnerable. Even if a Government decision on institutional financing was adopted, it is not clear how the seismic service will be financed. It is important that the financing of this service should not depend on institutional financing and on the contest of projects and should be decided separately, Igor Nicoară, director of the Institute of Geology and Seismology of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, was quoted by IPN as saying in a public lecture.
“We made such a request to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research. We know that we were heard, but are still waiting. I don’t know the volume of financing for this year that started over a month ago,” stated Igor Nicoară.
He also said that permanent financing for purchasing new equipment and components needed to maintain the seismic stations functional is absent. The equipment is close to becoming outdated as it has a lifespan of 10 years. “We sometimes have to maintain the older equipment with older software that is no longer serviced by the producer,” he noted.
The shortage of staff is a very big problem. The salary in the field is absolutely unattractive to young people. Also, staff in geophysics in Moldova has never been trained. Igor Nicoară said special scholarships are needed and also special work contracts for the people working in the sector.
Other necessities that are not related to the Institute’s work refer to the ensuring of security on Moldova’s territory. “Works to reinforce buildings for situations of risk are not performed and this can lead to tragic consequences in case of earthquakes,” stated the director.
According to Igor Nicoară, to diminish the seismic risk, the normative framework concerning the designing and building of earthquake-resistant structures on the country’s territory should be improved and adjusted to the EU norms. The current stock should be examined to determine its real aseismic degree, with emphasis on such facilities as schools, hospitals and kindergartens. Economic mechanisms to reduce the seismic risk and to increase the population’s seismic security are needed. “If such mechanisms are in place, the losses could be considerably diminished,” said the expert.
