The earthquake occurred at 7:41 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (local time: 11:41 a.m., 22.7 s). The intensity at the epicenter was estimated at 10 points. The earthquake covered about 40% of the territory of the Republic of Armenia, where 1 million people lived. The destruction zone, where the earthquake intensity was 8 points and above, covered an area of ​​​​three thousand square kilometers. 21 cities and 342 villages were affected. 514 thousand people were left homeless. About 20,000 people were injured to various degrees, and the number of victims was 25,000. The number of victims was especially high in Gyumri (about 15-17 thousand) and Spitak (4 thousand).

17% of the entire housing stock of the Republic of Armenia was destroyed, 170 industrial enterprises ceased to operate, and great damage was caused to villages, the agro-industrial complex, architectural, historical, and artistic monuments. Through the efforts of the population and rescuers, more than 45,000 people (dead or alive) were pulled out of the rubble, and 12,500 people were hospitalized. The earthquake completely destroyed the city of Spitak, and destroyed 80 percent of the residential, social, and industrial stock of Leninakan (now Gyumri), the second city of Armenia.

We continue to overcome the consequences of the devastating earthquake to this day. In memory of the victims of the earthquake, on behalf of the YSU IB Directorate, we wish that Armenia will always be a resilient, peaceful and safe, that we, the citizens, being residents of a country located in a seismic zone, properly know the rules and effective means of protection from earthquakes, be informed and protected...