Severe Floods Threaten Romania’s Praid Salt Mine, One of Europe’s Largest Reserves

The swollen Corund river spills down inside the Praid Salt Mine following increased levels due to floods, in Harghita, Romania, May 28, 2025. Inquam Photos/Alex Nicodim via REUTERS

Praid, Romania, May 30, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Severe flooding in Romania is threatening to destroy the Praid salt mine, one of Europe’s largest salt reserves and a major tourist attraction that draws over 500,000 visitors annually.

Local authorities have closed the mine as the worst floods in three decades hit Harghita County in central Romania. Rising waters from a nearby stream have flooded parts of the mine, putting its structure and future viability at risk.

The floods have also jeopardized the livelihoods of local residents in Praid, a town whose economy has long depended on tourism linked to the salt mine, local officials said.

"A problem with the salt mine can have catastrophic consequences for the entire region," said Csongor Zsombori, head accountant at the Praid branch of National Salt Company S.A., a state-controlled enterprise that partially owns the mine.

In addition to producing 70,000 to 100,000 metric tons of salt per year, the mine is known for its vast underground galleries, which include an adventure park, a chapel carved in salt, and a medical center that provides treatment for respiratory illnesses.

Laszlo Nyagrus, Mayor of Praid, said that miners have already removed equipment and are working to safeguard other sections of the mine that have not been open to tourists.

"They are trying to save these galleries by constructing sluices and dams to protect the unaffected areas," the mayor stated.

Nyagrus added that local authorities are also urgently exploring alternative tourism opportunities to retain visitors and protect the town’s economy.

"We need to look at what can be done very quickly in the tourism sector, what opportunities can be explored, so that we can retain as many tourists as possible in Praid," he said.

The full extent of the damage and the long-term impact on the mine’s operations remain under assessment as flood prevention efforts continue.