EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE TO TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

Blocking of Roadways Caused by Building Collapse in the Armenia Earthquake

Earthquake of December 7, 1988, Armenia. The magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northwestern Armenia and was followed four minutes later by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock. The earthquakes hit an area 80 km in diameter comprising the towns of Leninakan, Spitak, Stepanovan, and Kirovakan in Armenian SSR. Twenty-five thousand were killed, 15,000 were injured, and direct economic losses were put at 14.2 billion (U.S.).