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. |
The magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northwestern Armenia and was followed four minutes later by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock. The earthquakes hit an area 80 km in diameter comprising the towns of Leninakan, Spitak, Stepanovan, and Kirovakan in Armenian SSR. Twenty-five thousand were killed, 15,000 were injured, and direct economic losses were put at $14.2 billion (U.S.). The ground shaking resulted in the partial or total collapse of buildings in Leninakan and filled the streets with debris making them impassable. The heavy equipment needed to lift off heavy sections of buildings to free survivors had difficulty getting to the sites. 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:
|
|
