Gyumri pays tribute to 1988 earthquake victims

Armenia marks the 24th anniversary of the 1988 Spitak earthquake today, December 7.  

Many officials, clergymen, servicemen and ordinary citizens laid flowers at the monument to earthquake victims at 11:41 today in the city of Gyumri. Armenian Defense Minister, Shirak Governor, Gyumri Mayor and other officials were among those who paid tribute to the earthquake victims.

Twenty-four years ago, on Dec. 7 at 11:41 am local time (07:41 UTC/GMT), an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale took place in the north of Armenia. The epicenter was in the city of Spitak and surrounding villages. The magnitude in Spitak was 10; Gyumri, 9; Stepanavan, 9; Vanadzor, 8–9; and Yerevan, 6. According to official data, the quake killed 25,000 people and left 514, 000 homeless. Thousands of people received various bodily injuries, while the value of material losses was estimated to be at $10 billion US.