Earthquake in Tashkent in 1966: photo, number of deaths

An earthquake is the most destructive and dangerous natural phenomenon, leading to irreversible changes. Destruction of cities, industry, energy and transport communications and, of course, the death of people - such are the consequences of any earthquake.

The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, April 26, 1966. At 05:23 am, when people were still sleeping in their homes, one of the most devastating earthquakes of the last century happened.

Earthquake in Tashkent (1966)

In the hearth, the earthquake magnitude was 5.2 on the Richter scale. On the surface, the seismic effect exceeded the mark of 8 points out of 12 possible. The earthquake in Tashkent began with an underground hum; Many noticed bright light flashes that accompanied the first push. At a depth of 2 to 9 kilometers there was a break in the rocks. The hearth was under the very center of the city, where all the destructive power of this natural phenomenon came. On the outskirts of Tashkent, the seismic effect strength reached 6 points, the oscillations lasted 10-12 seconds at a frequency of 2 to 3 Hz.

The earthquake in Tashkent in 1966 is by no means the first one - there have been tremors there before. Under the city there is a fault of tectonic plates, called Karzhantausky. Also, Tashkent is in the zone of seismic activity of a relatively young mountain system, Tien Shan, so these phenomena are not uncommon there. But the earthquake in Tashkent in 1966 was the most destructive of all.

Victims

The strength of the earthquake was terrifying, but the epicenter of the elements was at a shallow depth. Because of this, vertical waves quickly faded and did not disperse far, only this saved the city from destruction. But the central districts of the capital suffered greatly: the destruction zone reached 10 kilometers. Due to the predominantly vertical fluctuations, even the mud houses were not completely destroyed. Many buildings were heavily warped and cracked, but stood firm. This is what saved people from death: when there was an earthquake in Tashkent (1966), the death toll was 8 people. More than two hundred people were injured, later many elderly people died from the shock.

Destructions

The earthquake in Tashkent deprived half the residents of the city of the roof. In just a few minutes about two million square meters of living space came into disrepair. 78 thousand families were left without shelter, administrative buildings, trade objects, public services, educational institutions, medical and industrial buildings were destroyed by an earthquake.

Subterranean tremors continued for several more years, and by 1969 seismologists counted more than 1,100 repetitions. The strongest were recorded in May and June 1966, and also in March 1967. The tremors reached 7 points on the Richter scale.

Courage of the inhabitants

The earthquake in Tashkent required great courage from the inhabitants of the city. During the day on the sidewalks and lawns were broken tents, in which people were settled. They started running water and uninterrupted electricity supply. People helped each other than they could, in the city there was not a single case of acts of looting.

To help the inhabitants of the destroyed city from all over the territory of the Soviet Union, they sent products and medicines. The city was supplied with tents, equipment, materials for construction. They opened about 600 shops and temporary shopping outlets, places of public catering. About 15 thousand families were moved to other cities and union republics. The children were sent to pioneer camps throughout the USSR.

Restoration of the city

The earthquake in Tashkent in 1966 rallied people. The city was recovering at an accelerated pace, and by the beginning of winter more than 300,000 inhabitants had settled into new homes. In less than three years, all the consequences of the earthquake were eliminated. On the outskirts, new residential quarters were built, the center of the city, schools and administrative buildings, cultural and leisure establishments were rebuilt.

With the help of the republics of the Soviet Union, the city not only survived a terrible catastrophe, but also rebuilt. The earthquake in Tashkent contributed to the development of the city, the area of which increased 1.5 times after the restoration. Also increased the number of residents: the city has more than a hundred different nationalities.

Tashkent: the earthquake (1966). Photos and monuments

In the center of the city, on Sayilgoh Street, formerly known as Karl Marx, a large department store was destroyed. On its wall were large clocks that stopped when the earthquake began. Probably, it was this watch that served the idea of the memorial.

In honor of the decade since the tragedy in Tashkent, the architectural complex "Courage" was built, which was dedicated to the elimination of the consequences of the earthquake. The monument was located on the edge of a new residential block, built after the earthquake. The composition consists of a cube and a bas-relief in the background. A stone cube of black labrador is split into two parts. One shows the clock face - the arrows show the time when the earthquake in Tashkent began. The other half is the date of the tragedy. The rift extends to the foot of the sculpture, which shows a man covering a woman and a child with a breast.

The plinth is made of bronze, the broken shape symbolizes the destruction that caused the earthquake in Tashkent in 1966. On the sides there are seven rays, which lead to 14 stelae. On the stelae are installed through bas-reliefs from bronze, which depict people rebuilding the city.

Until 1992, in Tashkent, in the Chilanzar quarter, there was another monument to the builders of the city. The memorial was a rectangular pool of marble, and above it was a granite stele, which depicted the arms of the republics of the Soviet Union, who helped in rebuilding the city after the earthquake. In 1992, the monument was destroyed, the water from the pool was lowered, the arms were removed.

After the earthquake, an organization was created in Tashkent that is engaged in the study of seismic activity. Their activities also include the study of dangerous areas, the causes of earthquakes, and, if possible, the prediction of new tremors. On the basis of the Central Station of Seismology "Tashkent", the Institute of Seismology of the Uzbek SSR, now the Republic of Uzbekistan, was established.