M6.8

1988 Armenia Earthquake

Name: 1988 Armenia Earthquake — M6.8
Start: 1988-12-07
End: 1988-12-07
Location: Spitak, Armenia

Spitak, Armenia — December 7, 1988

The 1988 Spitak earthquake killed 25,000 people and destroyed three Armenian cities. The scale of destruction revealed critical failures in Soviet prefabricated construction methods. The Soviet government's invitation of international assistance marked the first time the USSR accepted foreign help during a disaster.

Earthquake Facts

Magnitude

M6.8

Date

Dec 7, 1988

Depth

7 km

Deaths

25,000

Latitude

40.987°

Longitude

44.224°

Tsunami

Region

Armenia

Tectonic Cause

Thrust fault along the boundary zone of the Arabian and Eurasian plates in the Caucasus Mountains, where ongoing continental collision creates active reverse faulting.

View on USGS Earthquake Catalog