ArmInfo.The victims of the Spitak earthquake are remembered in Armenia and Artsakh.
Thus, on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the natural disaster, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian made a speech. "Today we remember the victims of the December 1988 catastrophe - the devastating Spitak earthquake. I am sending my words of consolation and support to all those of my compatriots who, as a result of the catastrophic earthquake, have lost their loved ones, families and homes.
In memory of our compatriots who perished, we can and must, together, with our daily work and dedication, with hope and faith, rebuild our Fatherland - our lasting home that will withstand any disaster, " Armen Sarkissian said.
By tradition, a wreath at the memorial to the victims of the earthquake in Gyumri was laid on behalf of the second President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian. "Like every year, on December 7, a wreath was laid in Gyumri on behalf of the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, in memory of the victims of the devastating 1988 earthquake," reads Robert Kocharian's Facebook page.
Today, on December 7, Artsakh Republic Foreign Minister David Babayan visited the Stepanakert Memorial Complex, and on behalf of the entire staff of the Foreign Ministry laid flowers at the monument to the victims of the destructive earthquake in Armenia on December 7, 1988. "We remember and grieve," he said.
To note, since 2019, December 7 has been proclaimed in Armenia as the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Spitak earthquake. The country's parliament at a meeting on October 24 in the second and final reading made additions to the law "On Holidays and Memorable Dates." On December 7, 1988, a devastating earthquake occurred in Armenia, which almost completely destroyed two cities in northern Armenia - Spitak and Leninakan (present-day Gyumri), over a hundred villages. Several more cities were partially destroyed. In the epicenter of the earthquake - the city of Spitak (northern Armenia), the strength of the earthquake, assessed on a 12-point scale, reached 10 points. On this day, according to official data, 25 thousand people died, 140 thousand became disabled, and half a million people lost their homes.