1988 Armenian earthquake
The 1988 Armenian earthquake, also known as the Spitak earthquake (Armenian: Սպիտակի երկրաշարժ, Spitaki yerkrasharj), happened on December 7 at 11:41 local time with a surface wave magnitude of 6.8 and a maximum MSK intensity of X (Devastating).[1]
The shock happened in the northern region of Armenia. Between 25,000 and 50,000 were killed and up to 130,000 were injured.
Despite the tensions of the Cold War, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev formally asked the United States for humanitarian help within a few days of the earthquake.[2]
1988 Armenian Earthquake Media
- 1988 Armenian Earthquake Shakemap.jpg
ShakeMap produced by the United States Geological Survey for the mainshock illustrating strong ground motion
- 1988 Spitak earthquake - Collapse of Floors, Leninakan, Armenia.tif
Building damage in Leninakan
Severely damaged masonry buildings in Spitak
- Surb Amenaprkitch.jpeg
The Holy Saviour's Church in Gyumri after the earthquake
- RIAN archive 8968 Rescue squad.jpg
A French search and rescue worker searches for buried people with the aid of a detection dog
Mikhail Gorbachev with Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in New York on the day of the earthquake
References
- ↑ Harutyunyan, Arpi (December 7, 2007). Still Recovering: A visit to the 1988 "center of the epicenter". http://www.armenianow.com/features/7913/still_recovering_a_visit_to_the_19. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
- ↑ Brand, David; Blackman, Ann (December 19, 1988). "Soviet Union: When the Earth Shook – A killer quake devastates Armenia, and the West responds with unprecedented aid". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956559,00.html. Retrieved August 10, 2012.(subscription needed)
