Coordination Committee of Russian Armenian Organizations issued a commemorative statement on the 25th anniversary of the devastating Spitak earthquake.

In the statement, the Committee commemorated the victims of the tragedy, thanking the countries who lent helping hands in aiding the survivors, volunteer doctors and rescuers who saved lives while risking their own, and all those who shared the sorrow of the Armenian people.

Armenia marks the 25th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake on December 7.

25 years ago today, at 11:41 am local time a magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northwestern Armenia to be followed by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock four minutes later. In the epicenter, the village of Nalband, the tremors were reported to measure 10 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake leveled the cities of Spitak and Gyumri, leaving about 25000 people dead, 100000 wounded and 500000 homeless.