A magnitude 6.6 earthquake near Nura, Kyrgyzstan killed 75 people and destroyed entire villages, exposing vulnerabilities of clay-and-straw construction.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- 6.6 moment magnitude
- Deaths
- 75 (including 41 children) people
- Injured
- 150 (including 93 children) people
- Largest aftershock
- 5.7 in Xinjiang magnitude
- Uzbekistan aid pledge
- Equivalent of US$200,000
- Day of mourning
- October 7, 2008
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake's epicenter was near Nura in Kyrgyzstan, a region prone to seismic activity. Much of the destruction was attributed to poor-quality building construction, as many structures in the area were built from clay and straw rather than engineered materials, leaving them highly vulnerable to ground shaking.
On October 5, 2008, at 21:52 local time, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near the town of Nura, Kyrgyzstan, destroying the town almost entirely along with the nearby village of Kura. Seventy-five people were killed, 150 were injured, and dozens of buildings collapsed across the affected area. The quake was felt throughout Central Asia.
Survivors received emergency relief including tents, mobile homes, and compensation payments. Uzbekistan pledged US$200,000 in humanitarian aid including cement and building materials. Kyrgyzstan observed an official day of mourning on October 7, and plans were made to rebuild Nura by August 2009, with the disaster highlighting chronic weaknesses in regional building standards.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 75 (earthquake)