PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia commemorates Spitak earthquake victims
07.12.2007 12:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 19 years have passed since the devastating Spitak
earthquake that shocked Armenia December 7, 1988. At 11.41 a.m. local
time a magnitude 10 earthquake destroyed the entire city of Spitak.
There was great damage to the nearby cities of Leninakan (now known as
Gyumri) and Kirovakan (today Vanadzor) and some 350 surrounding
villages.

The earthquake claimed lives of 25 thousand people; some 100 thousand
were wounded; over 500 thousand became homeless.

It was rated among the most crushing calamities of the world.

By Armenian President’s edict, a newly formed state committee was
charged with the task to develop a program of events till January 15,
2008. The government was instructed to finance the events dedicated to
the 20th anniversary of the earthquake.