Several well-known clubs, bars, cinemas, banks, stores, and other commercial units in Bucharest's Old Town, which are located in buildings with high seismic risk, might be closed under a law already adopted by the Parliament.

According to local Profit.ro, the normative act which was also endorsed by the Government, only needs the President’s OK to be applied. Once the new law comes into force, theaters, exhibition and reading halls, commercial units, tourism accommodation facilities, catering and services facilities, health and social care facilities, as well as public administration units and other facilities of this kind will not be allowed to operate in buildings in with high seismic risk.

This rule is to be applied to all buildings with high seismic risk until they complete the consolidation works.

According to data from Bucharest City Hall, 184 buildings in Romania’s capital are in the first class of seismic risk, being dangerous for the public. Another 183 building are in the first class of seismic risk, but without presenting a public danger.

More than 300 building are in the second class of seismic risk, which means that they might suffer major structural damage during an earthquake, but they are unlikely to collapse.

Profit.ro reports that 54 restaurants, bars, and clubs are currently operating in buildings with high seismic risk in Bucharest (first class), as well as 4 theaters and cinemas, 7 banking units, 5 pharmacies, 63 stores, 4 art galleries, and 13 medical clinics and beauty salons. The list continues with other institutions that operate in such buildings, including a university and a tourism information center.

The list of clubs, bars and restaurants located in such buildings include popular names such as Club A, Fire Club, Fratelli Espresso Bar, Turabo Cafe, and the City Grill restaurant on Lipscani street. Moreover, Patria Cinema, Nottara Theater, Studio Cinema, and Cinema Pro are also located in buildings with high seismic risk and might be shut down.

The list made by Profit.ro also includes several bank offices belonging to Bancpost, Banca Transilvania, Raiffeisen Bank, and Millenium Bank. Pharmacies such as Sensiblu and City Pharma, might also be among the commercial units to be shut down because of their location.

A strong earthquake might produce an even bigger tragedy than the one at Colectiv Club. The 1977 earthquake in Romania killed more than 1,500 people and wounded some 11,000. It had a magnitude of 7.2 degrees on Richter scale.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com