Bălți schools resume in-person classes following Nistru oil spill
Schools in the municipality of Bălți will resume in-person classes on Monday, March 23. The decision follows the restoration of the city's water supply system.
Students in Bălți were forced into remote learning from March 17 to March 20. This disruption was caused by a total shutdown of water pumping stations after an oil spill contaminated the Dniester (Nistru) River.
While water flow has been restored to Bălți, Soroca, Florești, and Sângerei, authorities warn that the water remains non-potable. Residents may only use tap water for domestic purposes and must rely on bottled water or free distribution points for drinking.
The Moldovan government has declared a 15-day environmental state of emergency for the Dniester River basin. This measure follows a Russian attack on the Novodnestrovsk hydroelectric plant in Ukraine.
Approximately 1.5 tons of oil products were released into the river during the strike. To contain the slick, emergency teams installed containment booms in the Cosăuți-Iampol area and specialized filters in several affected communities.
Water intake on the Naslavcea-Soroca sector was initially paused on March 11 and fully halted on March 14. Testing at the time confirmed that pollutant levels significantly exceeded safety standards.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
