Earthquake Remembrance Day in Turkmenistan is to honor the victims of the devastating 1948 Ashgabat earthquake. This national day of mourning commemorates one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country's history.

When is Earthquake Remembrance Day?

Earthquake Remembrance Day is observed annually on October 6.

The following is the list of Earthquake Remembrance Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Earthquake Remembrance Day?

In the early hours of October 6, 1948, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck near Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. The quake lasted approximately 10 seconds but caused catastrophic destruction. Nearly 98% of the city's buildings were destroyed, and the death toll is estimated between 110,000 and 176,000 people, accounting for about 10% of the population at the time .

At the time, Turkmenistan was part of the Soviet Union, and the Soviet government's censorship policies suppressed widespread reporting of the disaster. Initial official death tolls were significantly underreported, with later estimates revealing the true scale of the tragedy .

The earthquake had profound personal impacts on future leaders. Saparmurat Niyazov, who would become Turkmenistan's first president, lost his entire family in the quake, becoming an orphan at the age of eight .

In 1995, following Turkmenistan's independence, the government officially designated October 6 as a national day of remembrance for the earthquake victims . This day, known as Earthquake Remembrance Day, is a public holiday marked by nationwide mourning and reflection.