The mine had to be closed a few days before the farewell in Csíksomlyó due to water infiltration.
By the end of June, the work aimed at making the salt mine in Parajd safe will be completed and the facility will reopen, Irina Muller, the production director of the Romanian National Salt Industry Company (Salrom), told Marosvásárhely Radio on Wednesday.
According to their calculations, salt extraction and tourist activities can start again around June 25. Irina Muller added that since the works currently taking place also depend on the weather, it is possible that they will be completed as early as June 10 or 15.
He said: 90 percent of the urgent intervention was carried out, and 80 percent of the strengthening of the Korond stream bed was also completed, a protective channel was completed that can withstand the increased water flow, thus preventing the infiltration of water into the mine.
It is known that the salt mine was closed for an indefinite period in mid-May, a few days before the farewell to Csiksomlyó, due to water infiltration, after the water of the Korond stream seeped into the mine, washing out the salty bed soil.
Salrom ordered the closure of the tourist department of the mine for safety reasons, as the facility is visited by thousands of tourists during the Pentecost period on their way to and from the farewell party in Csiksomlyo.
The mine in Hargita county had to be closed for a few days last year as well, after groundwater leaked into the old shafts, which increased the humidity of the air in the halls that can be visited. The previous year, in the summer season, they faced a similar problem, the remedy of which resulted in a two-month layoff.
The salt mine is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Székelyföld, with 570,000 visitors in 2023.
Playgrounds, employment and recreation areas, an ecumenical chapel and a cinema are waiting for tourists in the accessible halls located 120 meters below the surface. Due to its beneficial microclimate, it is recommended for both healthy and sick people to spend time in the baths, it helps relaxation, regeneration of the body, and is also recommended for many health complaints.
Cover image: The Prajd salt mine may reopen soon
Source: Maszol.ro
