On December 7, at 11:41 a.m. Moscow time, a devastating earthquake struck Armenia, affecting the entire northern part of the republic, home to about one million people.
As a result of the natural disaster, more than 25,000 people were killed, about 19,000 were left disabled, and 530,000 Armenians lost their homes. The city of Spitak and 58 villages were completely destroyed. The cities of Leninakan, Stepanavan, Kirovakan, and more than 300 other settlements were partially destroyed. Buildings of schools, kindergartens, hospitals, theaters, museums, libraries, cinemas, and community cultural centers were damaged. 600 km of highways and 10 km of railway tracks were put out of service, and 230 industrial enterprises were destroyed. To assist the victims, a large-scale relief effort was launched across the USSR. All Soviet republics, as well as many Western countries, sent people, equipment, and all necessary supplies to the disaster area. Humanitarian aid collections were organized everywhere.