Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, G. Sobolev, Academy of Sciences of U.S.S.R.. |
Damage in the central area of Spitak. The collapsed structure in foreground was constructed of stone masonry, and the collapsed building behind it was constructed of precast-concrete slabs. Although these buildings failed, buildings in which panels and walls were held together by cast-in-place concrete joints performed well. Structural steel buildings also held up well. Image Credit: G. Sobolev. Academy of Sciences of U.S.S.R. 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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