BUCHAREST, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Moldovan authorities have intensified emergency operations in the country's north after petroleum-based pollutants, originating from a damaged hydroelectric facility in Ukraine, entered the Dniester River and disrupted water supplies.
The National Crisis Management Center (CNMC) said Tuesday on its Facebook page that response teams were deployed in Balti, where they are coordinating with local authorities to assess urgent needs and deliver assistance.
Balti, a major urban center in northern Moldova, received nearly 100 tonnes of drinking and technical water on Monday, according to the CNMC. Relief efforts are continuing, with 15 tankers and eight additional cisterns currently supplying potable water to residents.
Alternative sources, such as artesian wells and underground reserves, have also been activated in other affected localities.
The Ministry of Environment said Romania has provided urgent assistance by installing two absorbent barriers in Cosnita, Dubasari. Response teams continue to apply eco-friendly materials every six hours to contain the spread of pollutants in the river.
The General Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into the incident on March 16, following the government's declaration of a 15-day environmental alert for the Dniester River basin.
Authorities emphasized that response efforts remain ongoing to safeguard public health and ensure continued access to essential water resources. ■