Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, C.J. Langer, U.S. Geological Survey. |
Partial collapse of stone Masonry Bearing-Wall building north of Halavar (aka Alavar / Alivar), about 10 km SW of Kirovakan. Such load-bearing masonry-wall buildings were very common in large towns and cities in Armenia. This building type was unable to resist lateral shaking because of inadequate or lacking connections and bond beams tying the entire building together. Image Credit: C.J. Langer. U.S. Geological Survey December 7, 1988 Leninakan-Spitak-Kirovakan Armenia earthquake The magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northwestern Armenia, and was followed four minutes later by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock. The earthquakes affected an area 80 kilometers in diameter. This set includes damage photographs taken in and around the devastated cities of Spitak and Leninakan, where 25,000 deaths occurred. Location: Northwestern Armenian SSR, 18 kilometers north northwest of Spitak. Damage: $14.2 billion. Fifteen thousand were injured and 517,000 lost their homes. The death toll (25,000) could have been much worse had it not been for the heroic rescue of 15,000 who were pulled from the rubble. Event Data:
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