Armenia still rebuilding 20 years after earthquake
GYUMRI, Armenia (Reuters) – Zhora Azizyan felt lucky when he was granted temporary housing made of concrete blocks rather than the railway cars given to others after the earthquake that devastated northwestern Armenia.
But that was 1988.
Now he struggles to paper over the cracks in the walls, and the single gas stove is no match for winter temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius.
“After the earthquake, the Soviet Central Bank donated temporary accommodation for two years, made of concrete blocks 10 centimeters thick,” he said. “We were very happy at the time. But then two years became 20.”
Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the Spitak earthquake that flattened towns and villages across swathes of then Soviet Armenia, killing 25,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.
For many in Gyumri, Spitak and other towns shattered by the magnitude 6.9 quake, the memory has faded. But for others it remains as real today as it was when it struck at 11.41 a.m. (0741 GMT).
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http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B50YU20081206