33 years after the Armenia earthquake, thousands are still living in shipping containers

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December 7, 2021 – 11:19 am

PanARMENIAN.Net – 33 years after the devastating earthquake in Spirac, many families are still facing inadequate living conditions. According to Gyumri Mayor Vardijs Samsonian, 2,776 shipping containers that were redirected to tiny homes for the homeless more than 30 years ago are still in the city. 508 of them are vacant.

Armenia celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the earthquake that struck the northwestern regions of the country on December 7, 1988.

33 years ago today, at 11:41 am local time, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook northwest Armenia, followed by a 5.8-magnitude aftershock four minutes later. In the epicenter – the village of Nalband – it was reported that the tremors amounted to 10 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake destroyed the towns of Spitak and Gomri, as well as about 60 villages, killing at least 25,000 people, disabling 140,000 and leaving 500,000 homeless.

All material, financial and labor opportunities of the USSR were mobilized for reconstruction work, 45,000 builders from all member states arrived to help rebuild the devastated areas. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the restoration program was suspended.

Many families still live in unacceptable conditions, spending cold winters in dilapidated buildings or metal enclosures.

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