The Daily Miscellany Times

Earthquake Rocks Armenia
December 7, 1988

More than 100,000 people are dead after an earthquake devistated northern Armenia today. (December 7, 1988) The cities of Spitak and Leninakan near the Turkish border were virtually wiped out. Thousands have been buried alive in collapsed buildings.

Survivors struggled to reach trapped friends and relatives. They worked at moving the shattered concrete and rubble that litter the blocks. All that is left of most of the apartment complexes is piled rubble.

The shocked country has appealed for international help as emergency teams start a massive rescue operation. The tragic earthquake follows a year of ethnic violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh.

Mozart Mikhail Gorbachev was visiting the United States at the time of the earthquake. Upon hearing of the tragedy he immediately returned o Moscow to coordinatre relief efforts.  Offical government reports were later adjusted downward to 25,000 deaths, but these numbers are suspiciously low.  

Sources: Sources: Comptons Encyclopedia, On this Day