{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1881965,
        "msgid": "the-devastating-earthquake-that-crippled-the-soviet-union-1785045054",
        "date": "2026-07-26 11:25:20",
        "title": "The Devastating Earthquake That Crippled the Soviet Union",
        "author": "",
        "source": "DETIK",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Economy",
        "summary": "The 1988 Armenian earthquake, measuring 6.9 in magnitude, killed at least 25,000 people and left over half a million homeless in one of the 20th century's worst natural disasters. The destruction caused economic losses exceeding USD 16 billion, shutting down 130 factories and the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, which slashed regional electricity supply by a quarter. The catastrophe exposed critical failings in Soviet infrastructure and emergency response, contributing significantly to the Union's deepening economic and social turmoil.",
        "content": "<p>A massive earthquake struck Armenia on 7 December 1988, when it was\nstill part of the Soviet Union. The 6.9-magnitude tremor, followed by a\nmajor aftershock just four minutes later, devastated the northwestern\nregion. The city of Spitak was completely destroyed, and 80% of\nbuildings in Leninakan were damaged. Official Soviet estimates recorded\nover 25,000 fatalities, though unofficial figures suggested the death\ntoll could be more than double that, with 19,000 injured and over\n500,000 left homeless. The disaster prompted an official request for\ninternational aid, resulting in the largest relief effort since the\nSecond World War.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the immense human cost, the earthquake inflicted catastrophic\neconomic damage on the Soviet Union. By February 1989, Soviet media\nreported building losses exceeding USD 16 billion, a figure expected to\ndouble when accounting for business closures and the shutdown of the\nArmenian Nuclear Power Plant. The disaster halted operations at 130\nfactories and eliminated 25% of the region\u2019s electricity supply, which\nhad also been exported to Georgia. The catastrophe exposed severe\nweaknesses in Soviet building design, construction standards, and\nemergency response organisation, leaving the nation economically and\nsocially crippled.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-devastating-earthquake-that-crippled-the-soviet-union-1785045054",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}