News summary produced by Claude AI
A Romanian seismic risk reduction organization has identified at least 207 illegal tourist rental properties advertised on Airbnb and Booking.com in Bucharest, all located in buildings designated as the highest seismic risk category. The analysis found 116 listings on Booking.com, 47 on Airbnb, and 44 on both platforms, with capacity to accommodate over 1,000 visitors nightly. These properties violate a 2024 Romanian law that banned short and long-term rentals in high-risk buildings classified as RS1, with violations subject to fines between €1,000 and €2,000.
Bucharest holds the distinction of being the most seismically vulnerable capital in the European Union. The city experienced a devastating earthquake in 1977 that killed more than 1,500 people, injured over 10,000, and destroyed 32 buildings in under a minute. Experts warn that another major earthquake is inevitable and could cause greater damage than previous events due to deteriorating building conditions. A 2022 risk assessment estimated such an event could severely damage approximately 23,000 buildings, kill around 6,500 people, and seriously injure another 16,000.
Tourists booking these accommodations typically receive no disclosure about structural risks, as neither platform requires hosts to declare seismic vulnerability. In many cases, listings downplay or obscure the danger. Only two of the identified properties mentioned seismic risk, and even these minimized the concern. The required red dot warning displayed at building entrances in Romanian effectively excludes foreign visitors from understanding the hazard.
The organization Re:Rise attempted to alert both platforms about the issue but received responses indicating hosts bear responsibility rather than the companies. When these efforts proved unsuccessful, volunteers began placing stickers with QR codes on lockboxes outside high-risk properties to inform tourists about seismic dangers. Bucharest received more than 2 million visitors in 2025, making this public safety concern particularly acute. Both platforms stated they take safety seriously and are investigating, while Bucharest city authorities noted they conduct inspections only in response to complaints and have sent approximately 3,000 notifications to property owners.