The Romanian Earthquake of March 4, 1977 Revisited: New Insights into Its Territorial, Economic and Social Impacts and Their Bearing on the Preparedness for the Future

Abstract eng:
The Vrancea, Romania earthquake of March 4, 1977 was one of the worst earthquake disasters of the 1970’s around the world. It caused the loss of 1,578 lives and injured an additional 11,321, with 90% of the fatalities being in the capital city Bucharest. The reported damages included 32,900 collapsed or heavily damaged dwelling units, 35,000 homeless families, thousands of damaged buildings, as well as many other damages and destructions in industry and infrastructure. A 1978 World Bank report estimated a total loss of US$ 2.048 billion, with Bucharest, accounting for 70% of the total. More detailed but until recently classified and largely ignored damage data (ICCPDC reports, December 1978) contain information from 19 counties plus Bucharest, with the total damage value reaching Romanian Lei 3.7 billion, out of which damage in Bucharest accounts for 42%. Loss data from 20 ministries having assets in 25 affected counties amounts to Romanian Lei 3.5 billion. Thus, the total loss reaches Romanian Lei 7.25 billion. The territorial loss was heavy in many counties and its geographic distribution surprising, with limited damage in the epicentral region and extensive damage in faraway counties and reasons for this surprising pattern are discussed. The paper aims to quantify and bring-out in the open the extent of this disaster so that its effects are fully appreciated, thus serving towards the formulation of a new national strategy of seismic risk reduction.

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