Over 2,000 buildings in Bucharest are at risk of collapse in an earthquake

Following the devastating earthquake in 1977, Nicolae Ceausescu ordered a halt to building consolidation works, a decision that deeply affects the capital today. More than 400 buildings are officially classified as class I seismic risk, but experts estimate that the real number of vulnerable buildings exceeds 2,000. Although the legislation has been amended, lack of expertise and reluctance on the part of owners make it difficult to strengthen buildings. The collective memory of earthquakes is fading and the seismic risk remains a problem ignored by many residents.