Forty-five years ago, on April 26, 1966, at 5:23 a.m., Tashkent was hit by an earthquake.
© RIA Novosti . Georgiy Zelma / Go to the photo bankForty-five years ago, on April 26, 1966, at 5:23 a.m., Tashkent was hit by an earthquake.

Forty-five years ago, on April 26, 1966, at 5:23 a.m., Tashkent was hit by an earthquake.
© RIA Novosti . Georgiy Zelma / Go to the photo bankThe earthquake measured just 5.2 on the Richter scale, yet it occurred at a shallow depth of three to eight kilometers, causing tremors on the Earth's surface measuring a magnitude of 8 or 9.

The earthquake measured just 5.2 on the Richter scale, yet it occurred at a shallow depth of three to eight kilometers, causing tremors on the Earth's surface measuring a magnitude of 8 or 9.
© RIA Novosti . Georgiy Zelma / Go to the photo bankThe center of Tashkent was almost completely destroyed.

The center of Tashkent was almost completely destroyed.
© RIA Novosti . Georgiy Zelma / Go to the photo bankThe earthquake left eight people dead while some 150 people were hospitalized. Tractors and tanks were used in the clean-up operations.

The earthquake left eight people dead while some 150 people were hospitalized. Tractors and tanks were used in the clean-up operations.
© RIA Novosti . Chernov / Go to the photo bankOver 78,000 families, or more than 300,000 people, were left homeless in the earthquake.

Over 78,000 families, or more than 300,000 people, were left homeless in the earthquake.
© RIA Novosti . Georgiy Zelma / Go to the photo bankMore than 15,000 tents were set up in the city. Meals for people staying at evacuation centers were cooked on the street.

More than 15,000 tents were set up in the city. Meals for people staying at evacuation centers were cooked on the street.
© RIA Novosti . Georgiy Zelma / Go to the photo bankPeople from all corners of the Soviet Union came to help the city recover from the disaster.

People from all corners of the Soviet Union came to help the city recover from the disaster.
© RIA Novosti . Chernov / Go to the photo bankUnder a government resolution, old single-story wattle and daub houses were replaced with new modern high rises.

Under a government resolution, old single-story wattle and daub houses were replaced with new modern high rises.
© RIA Novosti . Alexey Varfolomeev / Go to the photo bankLong after the disaster, many apartments, neighborhoods and streets took the names of the cities that helped Tashkent during those difficult times. The city was completely rebuilt in three and a half years.

Long after the disaster, many apartments, neighborhoods and streets took the names of the cities that helped Tashkent during those difficult times. The city was completely rebuilt in three and a half years.
© RIA Novosti . A. Varfolomeev / Go to the photo bankA Friendship of Peoples Memorial was set at the epicenter of the earthquake.

A Friendship of Peoples Memorial was set at the epicenter of the earthquake.