Earthquake is the most destructive and dangerous natural phenomenon, leading to irreversible changes. The destruction of cities, industry, energy and transport communications and, of course, the death of people - these are the consequences of any earthquake.
The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, April 26, 1966. At 05:23 am, while people were still sleeping in their homes, one of the most devastating earthquakes of the last century hit.
Tashkent earthquake (1966)
In the source, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.2 on the Richter scale. On the surface, the seismic effect exceeded 8 points out of 12 possible. The earthquake in Tashkent began with an underground rumble; many noticed the bright flashes of light that accompanied the first shock. At a depth of 2 to 9 kilometers, a rupture of rocks occurred. The hearth was located under the very center of the city, where all the destructive power of this natural phenomenon fell. On the outskirts of Tashkent, the strength of the seismic effect reached 6 points, the oscillations lasted 10-12 seconds at a frequency of 2 to 3 Hz.
The earthquake in Tashkent in 1966 is far from the first - there have been tremors there before. Under the city there is a fault of tectonic plates, called Karzhantaussky. Tashkent is also located in the zone of seismic activity of a relatively young mountain system, the Tien Shan, so such phenomena are not uncommon there. But the 1966 Tashkent earthquake was the most devastating of all.
Victims
The strength of the earthquake was terrifying, but the epicenter of the elements was at a shallow depth. Because of this, the vertical waves quickly faded and did not diverge far, only this saved the city from destruction. But on the other hand, the central districts of the capital suffered greatly: the destruction zone reached 10 kilometers. Due to predominantly vertical vibrations, even adobe houses did not completely collapse. Many buildings were badly warped and covered with cracks, but survived. This is what saved people from death: when the earthquake in Tashkent (1966) occurred, the death toll was 8 people. More than two hundred people were injured, and many elderly people later died from the shock.
Destruction
An earthquake in Tashkent deprived half of the city's residents of a roof over their heads. In a matter of minutes, about two million squares of living space fell into disrepair. 78 thousand families were left homeless, administrative buildings, trade facilities, utilities, educational institutions, medical and industrial buildings were destroyed by the earthquake.
The tremors continued for several more years, and toIn 1969, seismologists counted more than 1,100 aftershocks. The strongest were registered in May and June 1966, and also in March 1967. The tremors reached 7 on the Richter scale.
Courage of the inhabitants
The earthquake in Tashkent required great courage from the city's residents. During the day, tents were set up on the sidewalks and lawns, in which people were settled. Running water and uninterrupted supply of electricity. People helped each other as much as they could, there was not a single case of looting in the city.
Food and medicine were sent to help the inhabitants of the destroyed city from all over the Soviet Union. The city was supplied with tents, equipment, materials for construction. Opened about 600 shops and temporary outlets, catering places. About 15 thousand families were relocated to other cities and union republics. Children were sent to pioneer camps throughout the USSR.
Rebuilding the city
The earthquake in Tashkent in 1966 brought people together. The city was recovering at an accelerated pace, and by the beginning of winter, more than 300 thousand inhabitants settled in new homes. In less than three years, all the consequences of the earthquake were eliminated. New residential areas were built on the outskirts, the city center, schools and administrative buildings, cultural and leisure institutions were restored.
With the help of the republics of the Soviet Union, the city not only survived a terrible catastrophe, but also rebuilt. earthquake inTashkent contributed to the development of the city, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich after restoration increased by one and a half times. The number of residents has also grown: more than a hundred different nationalities live in the city.
Tashkent: earthquake (1966). Photos and monuments
In the city center, on Sayilgokh Street, which was previously named after Karl Marx, a large department store was destroyed. On its wall was a large clock that stopped when the earthquake began. Probably, it was this clock that gave the idea of the memorial.
In honor of the tenth anniversary of the tragedy, the architectural complex "Courage" was built in Tashkent, which was dedicated to the elimination of the consequences of the earthquake. The monument was placed on the edge of a new residential area built after the earthquake. The composition consists of a cube and a bas-relief in the background. A stone cube made of black Labrador is split into two parts. One shows a clock face - the hands show the time when the earthquake began in Tashkent. On the other half is the date of the tragedy. The rift stretches to the foot of the sculpture, which depicts a man covering a woman and a child with his chest.
The plinth is made of bronze, the broken shape symbolizes the destruction caused by the 1966 Tashkent earthquake. Seven rays diverge to the sides, which lead to 14 stelae. On the steles there are through bronze bas-reliefs depicting people restoring the city.
Until 1992, in Tashkent, in the Chilanzara 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 coats of arms of the republics of the Soviet Union, which helped to rebuild the city after the earthquake. In 1992, the monument was destroyed, the water was drained from the pool, the coats of arms were removed.
After the earthquake in Tashkent, an organization was created that studies seismological activity. Their activities also include the study of dangerous areas, the causes of earthquakes, and, if possible, the prediction of new shocks. On the basis of the Central Station of Seismology "Tashkent" they created the Institute of Seismology of the Uzbek SSR, now the Republic of Uzbekistan.
