Armenians commemorate 35th anniv. of devastating earthquakeDecember 7, 2023 - 14:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - 35 years have passed since the devastating earthquake that hit the northwestern regions of Armenia on December 7, 1988. 35 years ago today, at 11:41 am local time, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook northwestern Armenia followed by a 5.8-magnitude 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, as well as about 60 villages, leaving at least 25,000 people dead, 140,000 disabled and 500,000 homeless. All financial and labor capabilities of the Soviet Union were mobilized for reconstruction, as 45 thousand builders from all the member states arrived to help rebuild the destroyed areas. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the restoration program was suspended. Top stories As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with Stephan Schütz, Executive Partner at Gerkan, Marg and Partners. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |