Statements by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the Minister of Internal Affairs Cătălin Predoiu, prior to the crisis(...)

Statements by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the Minister of Internal Affairs Cătălin Predoiu, prior to the crisis cell meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs

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Marcel Ciolacu: In our view, the actions carried out by hospitals last night were exemplary. Therefore, we thank the doctors, the nurses, and the ambulances personnel who intervened last night. I also thank the firefighters, gendarmes, policemen who secured the perimeter.
I see that they keep drawing a parallel with the Colectiv case. My opinion is that a parallel should be drawn with the Mihăilești case, which ended very tragically.
Four injured have been transferred so far; two have already arrived in Belgium, two are about to arrive in Milan. Seven more transfers are being prepared. There are three injured in a very serious condition, still at the Floreasca Hospital, two more at the Bagdasar Hospital, injured in the first explosion, and we will see after today's report where further action needs to be taken.
Reporter: What can you tell us about that LPG station? Was it closed? Did it operate clandestinely? How long had it been closed?
Marcel Ciolacu: I think that the General Prosecutor's Office has already appointed a prosecutor to deal with this case. I firmly believe that in the course of today, new elements will emerge and hearings will begin, as is normal.
Reporter: How many of the seven patients are civilians and how many are firefighters?
Marcel Ciolacu: I am sure that a military investigation will also be conducted.
Cătălin Predoiu: An investigation is underway, at the scene.
Reporter: According to our information, it could only be conducted by the Military Prosecutor's Office. Please correct us if we are wrong.
Cătălin Predoiu: I think there is no point in doubting the authority of the general prosecutor.
Reporter: I mean, could they check the way the firefighters acted and the forces were deployed?
Cătălin Predoiu: The Prosecutor General, together with the prosecutors, establish their competences and act according to these competences. I have no doubts about the prosecutor general's professionalism, on the contrary.
Marcel Ciolacu: It is important that whoever is found guilty, shall be punished according to the law. Be reassured about that.
Reporter: Should other measures have been taken to avoid injury of the firefighters?
Marcel Ciolacu: No. The firefighters had to intervene. The important thing is that lives were saved.
Reporter: Shouldn't they have been protected? Because there are many injured. There should have been a safety perimeter for them.
Marcel Ciolacu: First, the firefighting robots were used in intervention.
Cătălin Predoiu: It was a powerful explosion. Let's wait for the specialists, to clarify all these technical aspects.
Marcel Ciolacu: What matters now is that the number of victims was limited.
Cătălin Predoiu: Of course there is one thing... The perimeter was created.
Marcel Ciolacu: Thank you very much!

Statements by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu after the crisis cell meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs
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Marcel Ciolacu: Marcel Ciolacu: /.../ more than sure, we will address this issue at the Ministry. I talked to the president of Dambovita County Council to see what aid we should earmark for the residents affected by explosions. Seven houses were hit by explosions. Minister Arafat will give further detail about the transfers of the injured. We keep in touch today.
Reporter: Did you establish at the meeting, at the talks, how many patients will be transferred today?
Marcel Ciolacu: We are ready to transfer as many as possible today, especially those who need it. There are three hospitals under construction at this moment: one based in Timisoara, one in Targu -Mures the construction of which will start in a few weeks. Also, the works will start in September for the construction of the Big Burns Centre within the "Grigore Alexandrescu" Children's Emergency Hospital in Bucharest. Thank you!