On October 6, Turkmenistan celebrates the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake and the soldiers who died on the battlefields. On this day, mourning events dedicated to these tragic events were held throughout the country.
In Ashgabat, thousands of people laid flowers at the monuments “Spiritual Bow”, “Sons of the Nation” and “Eternal Glory”. Representatives of the government, public organizations, clergy and heads of foreign diplomatic missions took part in the wreath-laying ceremony, reports the MIC of Turkmenistan.
On the night of October 5-6, 1948, an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Ashgabat. At the epicenter, the intensity of the shaking reached 9-10 points. As a result of the natural disaster, 98% of Ashgabat's buildings were destroyed, killing from 110 to 170 thousand people.
Since 1995, the date October 6 has been celebrated in Turkmenistan as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the 1948 Earthquake.In 2014, the Days of Remembrance for those killed in the Battle of Geoktepe, as well as those killed in World War II and the victims of the 1948 earthquake were combined into a common Remembrance Day.
Memorial Day is an important day for the Turkmen people. It serves as a reminder that even in the most difficult times, Turkmens have always been united and unwavering in their love for the Motherland.