The view from the car, rushing on the frozen road, is breathtaking. Everything is covered with snow. White mountains - silent and tranquil – are incredibly dressy under the sparkling and still untouched snow. Despite the fact, that the heater in the car is running at full power, my feet are still getting frozen.

How have people survived in such a cold? I thought, remembering the documentary footages of the 88th. Although my mother told me, that it was not so cold on December 7 of that year, the winter frosts came later - a week after the tragic events.

“We should make it, until it is dark,” said the driver, increasing the speed. People go to bed at dusk in villages. There is mothing else to do in winters.

Soon, we could see a faded sign Spitak at the distance. After passing it, we headed to the village Shirakamut, formerly known as Nalband.

Finally, here it is, the village, that on December 7, 1988, became the epicenter of the terrible earthquake and was erased from the face of the earth. Hundreds of people were buried alive under the ruins of their own houses; more than 200 children died under the rubbles.

Today, nothing testifies about those horrific devastations. The village has almost been completely restored after 28 years, when the tragedy took place. Most of the houses have been rebuilt in the same places. One thing only couldn’t go unnoticed – there was no light in half of the houses. 

“Some moved to Russia, others farther… They earn a living, as they can,” said a tired saleswoman of a half-empty shop. “Go to the courtyard, where the windows are lit.”

We followed her advice. Then, knocked on every door one by one. One couldn’t miscount here. We didn’t know, how to begin, though. But, people got it, as it is. There were bringing photos, still were getting worried, holding them in her hands, no matter how hard they tried to resist that feeling.

Arevik

Alvard Palian lost two daughters and her mother in law. Her children were burned alive in the fire, that suddenly outbroke after the earthquake. Her younger daughter, Argine, was 2.5 years old; Arevik was about to become 4 on December 28.

"I left the house to bring water. I ran home, after there occurred shakings... but only heard my mother-in-law screaming, "Alvard, save our children!". But, I could not do it alone. I ran throughout the village, crying for a help. "

Sophia Igithanyan

Vardanush Igithanyan lost her mother, 69-year-old Sophia, and her niece, 18-year-old Marina Charchyan.

"We moved to Nalband from Kirovakan. When my father passed away, my mother remained alone. Marina came to visit her on that day."

Makrui Simonian

Bavakan Simonian lost her mother-in-law Makrui.

"I was on the bus, returning home after work. My husband was at work, and my children were at school. My mother-in-law Makrui was at home. Suddenly, the bus shook so hard, that all the windows crashed... but the driver could manage it. Tt was shaking the rest of the way. I was going crazy ... Where are my children? What has happened to my husband? When I ran home, I saw my mother-in- law, pinned by the window frame."

Knarik

Aleksandra Zakharova was born in Kurgan. In 1988, she worked as a Russian teacher in Nalband school. She lost her 16-year-old daughter, Knarik.

"I was teaching at school. Knarik caught cold and stayed at home. My husband stayed at home as well. But, at that moment he went out … everything happened so fast. Nobody knew anything ... but my girl, my Knarik, remained under the rubbles. "

Anna

Varuzhan Yeranosyan lost two sisters - Anna and Susanna.

"Anna and Antaram were in their 10th grades. They were twins. When the earthquake took place, Anna had a class. Antaram took a day off and survived   by miracle. Susanna was at home with her two sons and her mother in law. They were going out for a walk and were dressing their children. Only her husband survived on that day."

Two sons of Susanna on the left

Sofia with her husband Garnik

Hrachui Torosyan lost her friend.

"Sofya Sargsyan was a pediatrician. On that day, she was in Spitak in the apartment with her children - twins. He children were under the table, when the earthquake took place.  It saved them. It took two days from rescuers to pull them out. When it came to Sofia, it got dark. There wasn’t enough equipment available. Sofya died, when the rescuing there deciding how to save her. Her husband Garnik vowed to never marry again. "