36 Years Have Passed Since the Devastating Spitak Earthquake
December 7, 1988, marks a tragic chapter in the history of the Armenian people. At 11:41 a.m., an earthquake in Spitak caused massive destruction to the city and surrounding villages. The 10-magnitude earthquake claimed thousands of lives, leaving many others homeless. Thousands of buildings, as well as cultural and historical treasures, were destroyed. The total number of casualties reached approximately 25,000, while around 20,000 people were injured. Nearly 500,000 were left without shelter.
21 cities and districts, as well as 342 villages, were affected. Spitak, Gyumri, Stepanavan, Akhuryan, Kirovakan, and other affected settlements were at the epicenter of destruction. People from various parts of Armenia hurried to help those in the disaster zone. Soon, assistance also arrived from compatriots in the diaspora and international organizations. Diasporan specialists—doctors, builders, psychologists, and others—rushed to Armenia to take part in the rescue efforts.
36 years have passed since the earthquake. Now, the settlements affected by the disaster have been rebuilt. Of course, the path to reconstruction was long and difficult, but the Armenian people, united, overcame these challenges. Today, Spitak has been rebuilt, but the scars of the past years are still fresh.
Today, as we remember the days of the earthquake, we understand that our unity is stronger than any disaster.