Today Ashgabat hosted events on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance, within the framework of which tribute is paid to the victims of the Ashgabat earthquake in 1948, as well as to the heroes who died on the battlefields of all wars, the “Vatan” news program of Turkmen television reported.
As part of the Memorial Day, a flower-laying ceremony was held at the Halk hakydasy (“People's Memory”) memorial complex. The ceremony was attended by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and members of the government. The head of state laid wreaths at the foot of the Ruhy tagzym (“Spiritual Worship”), Milletiň ogullary (“Sons of the People”) and Baky şöhrat (“Eternal Glory”) monuments. Following the flowers were laid by the chairman of the Mejlis, deputy chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers and other participants of the ceremony.
In the Memorial Complex, the President of Turkmenistan examined the wall bas-reliefs of famous personalities who left an unfading mark in history with their invaluable services to the people and the country, who, having shown heroism, did not spare their lives for the happiness of future generations and peace in their native land.
The head of state emphasized the need to educate the young generation in the spirit of patriotism and to form among young people a sense of pride and respect for the great history of our courageous people, the desire to study on a systematic basis the glorious heroic past of the nation.
Recall that on the night of October 5-6, 1948, an earthquake occurred in Ashgabat - one of the most destructive in the history of mankind. The magnitude of the earthquake reached 7.3 on the Richter scale, and at the epicenter - 9-10 points. In a matter of minutes, 98% of Ashgabat's buildings crumbled to dust, and whole families died. In total, according to various versions, from 110 to 170 thousand people died in the capital and surrounding areas.
Since 1995, October 6 has been celebrated in Turkmenistan as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the 1948 Earthquake. In 2014, the Days of Remembrance of those killed in the Geoktepe battle, as well as those killed in World War II and the victims of the 1948 earthquake were united into a common Day of Remembrance.
