New Archival Evidence on the 1977 Vrancea, Romania Earthquake and Its Impact on Disaster Management and Seismic Risk

The March 4, 1977, Vrancea earthquake was Romania’s greatest natural disaster in the 20th century. Today, forty years later, its impact, but also post-disaster actions and policies, continue to influence seismic risk. Based on lessons learnt, an improved seismic design code was introduced in 1978 for new construction, but in July 1977 for damaged buildings all strengthening projects were abruptly stopped by a high level political order that allowed only local—often cosmetic- repairs. After 1989, many state archives have been opened, helping us deepen our understanding of how disaster management was conducted in that time. This paper reveals new findings and data on building damage and human casualties. This new evidence suggests that nearly a quarter of the lives lost in Bucharest were not in collapsed multi-story buildings, but in other, yet to be investigated, locations. Also new evidence about the unidentified victims lifts popular doubts on this issue. Lastly, the authors analyze the July 4, 1977, government decision to end the seismic reinforcement of damaged buildings and the debate at the time between specialists and government officials.