On December 7, 1988, at 11:41 am, a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 -7.2 occurred in the north of Armenia. Within a few seconds, the cities of Spitak, Leninakan, Kirovakan, Stepanavan, more than a hundred villages and settlements of of Spitak, Akhuryan, Gugark, Aragats, Kalinino, Stepanavan regions were completely or partially destroyed.
As a result of the devastating earthquake 32 years ago, 21 cities and regions, 342 villages were affected, 514 thousand people were left homeless. The natural disaster killed more than 25,000 people and injured about 20,000. The victims were especially many in Gyumri - about 15-17 thousand, and in Spitak - 4 thousand people. As a result of the Spitak earthquake, 17% of the entire housing stock in Armenia was destroyed, factories and historical monuments were severely damaged.
After the earthquake, a special commission headed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Nikolay Ryzhkov arrived in Armenia from Russia. More than 113 countries and 7 international organizations provided assistance to Armenia in those days.
