In May 1970, Romania faced one of its most devastating natural disasters as severe flooding swept across the country, claiming the lives of over 200 people and displacing thousands. The calamity was exacerbated by an unusual combination of heavy winter snow, followed by a sudden warm front that caused rapid snowmelt, leading to unprecedented rainfall.
By May 12, temperatures soared to 30 degrees Celsius in the south, while a polar air mass brought drastic cooling, resulting in massive precipitation. Rivers, particularly the Someș, overflowed, reaching widths of up to 1.5 kilometers and depths of 9 meters, causing catastrophic flooding in cities like Dej and Satu Mare. By May 14, the Mureș River inundated half of Alba-Iulia, with floodwaters rising to 8.5 meters.
The floods devastated agricultural lands, destroyed thousands of homes, and left over 10,000 people homeless. The government declared a state of emergency as efforts were made to build earthen dams to control the raging waters. This disaster is recorded as the largest natural calamity in Romania since the 1977 earthquake, with the loss of life and property still being assessed.
Experts note that such a catastrophic event is rare, occurring only once every 300 years, highlighting the unique climatic conditions that led to this tragedy.