Ascultă Radio România Actualitaţi Live

Emergency intervention

A new tragic accident casts doubts on the activity of the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in Romania.

Emergency intervention
Helicopter of the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication. Photo: rri.ro.

Articol de Radio România Internaţional, 18 Decembrie 2014, 07:18

“The state leaves its citizens to die”, headlines a Romanian TV channel on its web page following Monday’s crash of a medical helicopter into the Siutghiol lake, in south-eastern Romania, a mere 500 metres from the bank.

The helicopter carried 39-year-old doctor Laura Vizireanu, 38-year-old nurse Gabriela Harton, the pilot Petre Corneliu Catuneanu, aged 47, and his co-pilot Ginel Claudiu Cracanel, who was 42.

They were part of a medical rapid intervention team and were on their way back from a case which they had handled successfully.

Why their helicopter crashed only 10 minutes after take-off and why these people died is still unclear.

Eye witnesses from the bank who dialled the emergency number immediately after the crash say at least two people were still alive when they made the call, as they could hear their cries for help.

They recorded everything on their mobile phones and the footage is now all over television and social media.

The helicopter took off at 4.06 pm and crashed at 4.16.

The first emergency units left for the site of the crash 3 minutes after receiving the call.

The ambulance cars, which were the first to arrive at the scene, couldn’t do anything because the helicopter crashed in water.

Fire fighter units also left for the crash site from three different locations, the most remote being at only 6 km away.

A unit with a boat also left from this location but, as expected, was the last to arrive.

Once they reached the site, the boat crew realised they didn’t have the key for the boat engine and had to paddle their way to the spot of the crash.

It took hours for all the victims to be pulled out of the 2 degree Celsius water.

According to an official report, all intervention teams acted in keeping with the legal procedures in place, but the reaction time was delayed because of technical problems.

Interior minister Gabriel Oprea sacked the head of the local Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and proposed that the county prefect be replaced.

In the meantime, inquiries are under way to establish the cause of the accident.

Experts are looking at every fragment of the helicopter, which was brand new, with only 180 hours of flight.

A criminal investigation has also started.

Just like in the case of a plane crash on the 20th of January in the Apuseni Mountains, western Romania, the official institutions in charge were unable to save human lives.

In January, they blamed it all on the difficult terrain and the bad weather. Everybody is now waiting to see what they are blaming this time.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, working visit to France
News in English 04 Noiembrie 2024, 19:03

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, working visit to France

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is on a working visit to France today, where he will meet his counterpart Michel Barnier and...

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, working visit to France
The Senate will debate draft amendments to the military pensions law
News in English 04 Noiembrie 2024, 19:02

The Senate will debate draft amendments to the military pensions law

The Senate will debate, as a decision-making body, the draft amendment to the law on military pensions: first in the Defense...

The Senate will debate draft amendments to the military pensions law
International driving license
News in English 03 Noiembrie 2024, 14:52

International driving license

From mid-October, people who need an international driver's license can apply for it at the Driving License and Vehicle...

International driving license
Romanian Foreign Minister confident Moldova will join the EU
News in English 03 Noiembrie 2024, 14:51

Romanian Foreign Minister confident Moldova will join the EU

The Romanian Foreign Minister is confident that the Republic of Moldova will remain firmly anchored on the European path and...

Romanian Foreign Minister confident Moldova will join the EU
The organization of the referendum with the presidential elections in the capital
News in English 01 Noiembrie 2024, 20:23

The organization of the referendum with the presidential elections in the capital

The organization of the referendum in the capital at the same time as the presidential elections is facing organizational and...

The organization of the referendum with the presidential elections in the capital
Metrorex collective contract negotiations continue
News in English 01 Noiembrie 2024, 20:22

Metrorex collective contract negotiations continue

Negotiations between Metrorex management and trade unionists yesterday at the Ministry of Transport headquarters ended...

Metrorex collective contract negotiations continue
950 polling stations will be open abroad for presidential and parliamentary elections
News in English 31 Octombrie 2024, 16:46

950 polling stations will be open abroad for presidential and parliamentary elections

950 polling stations will be open abroad for this year's presidential and parliamentary elections, announces the...

950 polling stations will be open abroad for presidential and parliamentary elections
The electoral campaign for parliamentary elections officially begins
News in English 31 Octombrie 2024, 16:45

The electoral campaign for parliamentary elections officially begins

The electoral campaign for parliamentary elections officially starts at midnight. Parties, alliances or independents vying...

The electoral campaign for parliamentary elections officially begins