2008 Chechnya earthquake



The 2008 Chechnya earthquake occurred October 11 at 09:06:10 UTC in Chechnya, Russia, with a magnitude of 5.8. At least 13 people from the districts of Gudermes, Shalinsky and Kurchaloyevsky were killed. The mainshock and a series of aftershocks were felt throughout the North Caucasus, and even in Armenia and Georgia. About 116 people were injured.

Dagestan, Ingushetia, North Ossetia and Stavropol also experienced the tremors, with a total of 16 shocks between 3 and 6 on the Richter magnitude scale. Some tremors lasted up to 30 seconds, causing serious structural damage in two Chechen districts, and left 52,000 people without power in three districts. Communications and roads in Chechnya were also disrupted.

Five-hundred families in the heavily affected town of Kurchaloy needed tent shelters, and the local hospital in that town was evacuated. There was only minimal damage in the Chechnya capital of Grozny, consisting mostly of broken windows.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya said, "We have received information on damage from various districts... each and every [victim] will receive the necessary help and support."

A magnitude 5.3 aftershock struck the region approximately 16 minutes after the initial quake.