PHOTOS, VIDEO: Historic Hungarian salt mine, Transylvanian tourism hotspot submerged in water and may collapse
Although the miners of the Parajd (Praid) salt mine did what they could, they were not able to save the mine from the swollen Korond Stream. Before, the company built two temporary riverbeds to try to divert water from the mine and a wall inside the mine’s Telegdy branch. However, they could not halt the immense amount of precipitation rushing down from the mountains following heavy rainfalls. Locals blame the management of the mining company and politicians, and gathered in front of the mine gate shouting, crying and demanding justice and help.
Historic Transylvanian salt mine closed
Hunor Kelemen, the leader of the biggest party of the Hungarians living in Romania (RMDSZ), promised locals in a video uploaded on Facebook after 2.30 PM today that their priority is the safety of the people, the preservation of the workplaces and local tourism. He also promised that they would get help from the central government in Bucharest and that Parajd and its locals and miners would not remain alone.
However, desperate people do not believe him. Commenters wrote that the political leadership and the mining company did not act despite all the warnings, so the disaster was their fault. According to Transtelex, a local Hungarian media outlet, even the Telegdy branch was submerged under the floodwater this afternoon. The mine then had to be closed. Locals, guesthouse owners, and miners believe that it will not reopen for long.
PM Viktor Orbán and Kelemen have discussed the natural disaster in the salt mine in Parajd. Orbán promised the RMDSZ leader that Hungary would provide the Szeklers with all the help they needed in connection with the situation. Hungary’s government will give the Szeklers and Parajd all the help necessary to mitigate the damage and restore the salt mine to its prior state, Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s office, told a regular government press briefing yesterday. “Szeklerland can count on us,” the prime minister said after his talk with Kelemen.
Locals are angry: they need help and an explanation
Following the mine’s closure this afternoon, locals of Parajd, whose livelihood is based on local tourism, and miners believe they were deserted by both the company and the politicians.
The development director of the mine, József Sebestyén, resigned, while the Romanian government remained silent. People blocked the entrance of the mine this afternoon. HERE are some photos.
Locals believe that the mine did not close temporarily but forever. Rescue operations halted, and nobody told them what had happened and what was expected to happen next. They also slammed the mine’s management for not accepting the locals’ assistance to evade the tragedy.
This is how the salt mine looked before the disaster:
The National Salt Industry Company (SALROM) acknowledged in a statement issued today that even the salt was in danger due to the floodwater. Machinery and equipment that they could not save are also in danger, they added, according to Székelyhon, a local Hungarian media outlet.
Hungary offers disaster aid for flooded salt mine
Hungary’s disaster management authority OKF has offered its assistance in handling the aftermath of the floods affecting the Praid (Parajd, in central Romania) salt mines. An OKF spokesman noted on Friday that the mines are filled with water in the wake of heavy rains in Romania, adding that Hungary regularly helps its neighbours and other countries in similar situations.
Read also: