Spitak Earthquake Remembrance Day in Armenia Date in the current year: December 7, 2024

The Spitak earthquake occurred on December 7, 1988 in the northern region of Armenia. It measured 6.8 on the surface wave magnitude scale. Some of the strongest shaking occurred in industrial areas with power plants, electrical substations, chemical and food processing plants. The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant was closed for several years.

The cities of Spitak, Gyumri, and Vanadzor were affected the most. Many buildings (especially those built during the Era of Stagnation) were destroyed. Most hospitals in the region collapsed, killing about 75 % of the medical personnel and destroying medicine and equipment. The Spitak earthquake killed 25,000 to 50,000 people (according to different reports), 31,000 to 130,000 people were injured. The city of Spitak was almost entirely destroyed during the earthquake.

On December 7, 2008, a memorial to the earthquake victims was opened in the central square of Gyumri. On the anniversary of the earthquake, a wreath-laying ceremony is held at the memorial.