YEREVAN-TOURINFO-Today marks the 31st anniversary of the 10-magnitude Spitak earthquake on December 7, 1988, turning into ruins Armenian towns of Spitak, Leninakan (today’s Gyumri), Kirovakan, Stepanavan and over hundred villages, which claimed the lives of at least 25,000 people, 100,000 wounded and 500,000 homeless and injured tens of thousands.
31 years ago today, at 11:41 am local time, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northwestern Armenia followed by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock four minutes later. In the epicenter, Nalband village, the tremors reported to measure 10 on the Richter scale. The strong underground shaking destroyed Armenia’s northern portion, with a population of one million, in a matter of thirty seconds.
Thirty-one years after this earthquake, most of the people who became homeless have provided with housing. Still, there are families in Shirak and Lori Provinces who continue subsisting in shacks and temporary shelters.
According to the amendments made to the Armenia’s Law on Holidays and Remembrance Day, December 7 is announced a day of remembrance and disaster resilience for earthquake victims.
Today in Spitak, RA PM paid tribute to the monuments of the victims of the earthquake and
put a wreath at the monument dedicated to the memory of victims of the earthquake.
RA President Armen Sarkissian visited Gyumri and paid tribute to the memory of the 1988 earthquake victims.
