Thousands of homeless families still live in Gyumri city 25 years after the devastating earthquake that struck Armenia on December 7, 1988.  

According to some calculations, nearly 4,500 Gyumri families still live in wooden and tin shacks, where living conditions become unbearable especially in winter.  

Over the course of these 25 years,  the Armenian authorities were unable to fully restore Gyumri, Armenia’s cultural capital city, which was destroyed in a matter of seconds in 1988. 

Due to social problems, the population of Gyumri is reducing on a daily basis.   

Incidentally, no official from capital city Yerevan visited Gyumri on Saturday; that is, on the 25th anniversary of the earthquake. 

A Divine Liturgy was offered, in memory of the earthquake victims, at the yard of Holy Savior Church of Gyumri. 

Photos from Shirak Centre