Earthquakes Strike Romania: Vrancea and Tulcea Regions Affected

Romania experienced a series of four earthquakes on Thursday, February 26, 2026, with seismic activity concentrated in the Vrancea and Tulcea regions. The National Institute for Earth Physics (INFP) reported the events, ranging in magnitude from 2.7 to 4.5.

Strongest Quake Hits Vrancea

The most significant earthquake, registering a magnitude of 4.5, occurred in the Vrancea seismic zone at 7:21:51 p.m. Local time. The quake originated at a depth of 107.9 km. According to INFP data, the earthquake was felt near cities including Focșani (39 km W), Sfântu-Gheorghe (72 km E), Buzău (76 km N), Bacău (83 km S), Bârlad (86 km SW), and Brașov (88 km E). Source

Subsequent Seismic Events

Prior to the 4.5 magnitude quake, another earthquake was recorded in the Vrancea zone at 5:37:25 a.m., with a magnitude of 3.3 at a depth of 119.9km. This event was felt near Focșani (31km W), Buzău (61km N), Sfântu-Gheorghe (80km E), Bârlad (90km SW), Brașov (92km E), and Bacău (96km S).

Earlier on Thursday, at 12:31:54 a.m., a magnitude 2.7 earthquake struck the Vrancea zone near Buzău, at a depth of 124.6km. Cities near the epicenter included Buzău (49km NW), Sfântu-Gheorghe (64km SE), Brașov (65km E), Focșani (65km W), Ploiești (66km NE), and Târgoviște (96km NE).

Earthquake in Tulcea Region

A more recent earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.3, was recorded in the Dobrogea region, near Tulcea, at 8:52:46 p.m. Local time. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 3.0 km. The INFP reported that the earthquake was felt 48km S of Tulcea, 62km N of Constanța, 69km S of Izmayil, 80km SE of Brăila, and 93km SE of Galați. Source

About Tulcea

Tulcea is a city in Northern Dobruja, Romania, and the administrative center of Tulcea County. As of 2021, the city had a population of 65,624. Source It is located on the Danube River and has a history dating back to the 7th century BC, when it was founded as Aegyssus. Source