AHistoryIndependent states
1948 Ashgabat earthquake
On 6 October 1948 a magnitude 7.3 earthquake destroyed Ashgabat, the strongest ever recorded in Turkmenistan.
The earthquake struck near Ashgabat on the night of 6 October 1948 with a magnitude of 7.3 and a maximum intensity of X, destroying the great majority of the city's buildings.
Soviet censorship kept the disaster hidden for years, and historians believe this prevented relief from being organised promptly and on an adequate scale; tens of thousands died.
Every 6 October Turkmenistan observes a day of remembrance, and a memorial complex in Ashgabat honours the victims.
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Updated: October 3, 2026