Moldova:
Beauty & Challenges

Republic of Moldova Faces Major Climate, Hydrogeological, and Seismic Risks

From heatwaves and droughts to floods, landslides, and earthquakes, these hazards affect thousands of people and cause serious damage to infrastructure.
This information was shared during an online study visit on April 11, 2025, based on data collected on February 14, 2025.

🌡️ Extreme Weather

• Heatwaves reaching up to 40°C damage crops and threaten public health.

• Droughts reduce harvests by up to 50%.

• Floods, such as the Cotul Morii event in 2010, forced the relocation of entire villages.

• Hailstorms and frost continue to cause severe agricultural losses.

🌍 Landslides and Soil Erosion

• Landslides have destroyed homes and roads (e.g., Leușeni 1998, Nemțeni 2010).

• The economic losses amount to millions of US dollars.

• New laws have been introduced to better manage these risks.

🌋 Seismic Risks

• Moldova is affected by earthquakes originating in Romania’s Vrancea region.

• The 1940 earthquake (magnitude 7.4) caused significant casualties and destruction.

• Updated building codes aim to minimize the impact of future earthquakes.

🔥 Wildfires

• In 2022, more than 6,000 vegetation fires affected vast areas of land.

⚠️ Conclusion
These overlapping risks create complex challenges, but national authorities and international partners are strengthening early warning systems and improving disaster risk management across the country.

DISCLAIMER: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.