Armenia was shocked by the devastating earthquake that struck the country on December 7, 1988, at 11:41am local time; that is, 28 years ago on this day.

In a matter of thirty seconds, the strong underground shakings destroyed Armenia’s northern portion, with a population of one million.

At Spitak town, which was the epicenter of the tremor, the quake measured magnitude 10 on a 12-magnitude scale. Shocks were also recorded in capital city Yerevan as well as in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia.   

According to official figures, the disaster claimed 25 thousand lives, 19 thousand people became disabled, and 530 thousand residents were left homeless.

As a result of the earthquake, Spitak was destroyed virtually completely. Also, 21 cities and townships plus 324 villages were ruined. Eighty percent of the country’s second largest city, Gyumri— Leninakan at the time, was annihilated. There was great destruction in Armenia’s third largest city, Vanadzor—Kirovakan at the time, as well.

Close to forty percent of the country’s industrial potential was rendered inoperative as a result of this natural disaster.  

But the world entire lent a helping hand to Armenia, in an effort to heal the wounds of this great calamity.