The triggering event of systematization in Bucharest was the major earthquake of 1977 , which predominantly struck edifices built before World War II ( preceded by another major earthquake , that of November 10 , 1940 ) , while the structures dating from the communist era held out well . This was interpreted by the communist regime as a proof of its superiority over the pre-war regimes , and led to a paradigm change in its urban development policy . Up to that time , the communist regime had concentrated on the clearance and redevelopment of slums like '' Groapa Floreasca '' or '' Groapa lui Ouatu '' ( 1950s ) as well as on new high-density urban settlements in the suburbs , such as '' Bucureștii Noi '' ( 1950s ) , '' Balta Albă '' ( later '' Titan '' ) , '' Berceni '' , '' Giurgiului '' or '' Drumul Taberei '' ( 1960s ) , while the city remained basically untouched . The impacts of the earthquake , more severe in the central city , provided both ideological and technical arguments for urban intervention in historical Bucharest
major earthquake of 1977
1977 Vrancea earthquake
Ceaușima