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Armenia: Return to a Town that Died

Two British firefighters revisit the scene of Armenia's devastating earthquake in 1988.

Thirty years on from the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, what’s happened to the devastated town of Spitak? Rescuers from all over the world came to help search for survivors – among them a team of British firefighters. Now, with reporter Tim Whewell, two of those men are returning - to see how the town’s been rebuilt - and to remember a rescue effort that marked a turning point in East-West relations. The disaster came as Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev was developing his policy of glasnost (openness) – and his request for foreign assistance was the first such appeal the Kremlin had made in decades. The firefighters relive the drama, grief and courage of those days – and renew old friendships. They discover that Spitak has still not fully recovered from the quake, with many living to this day in squalid temporary housing.

Reporter Tim Whewell.

(Image: Reginald Berry and Paul Burns – two retired UK firefighters – revisit Armenia, 30 years after taking part in rescue and recovery efforts after the 1988 earthquake. Credit: ´óÏó´«Ã½/Hakob Hovhannisyan)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 30 Dec 2018 05:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 27 Dec 2018 13:32GMT
  • Thu 27 Dec 2018 18:06GMT
  • Thu 27 Dec 2018 21:06GMT
  • Thu 27 Dec 2018 23:06GMT
  • Fri 28 Dec 2018 02:32GMT
  • Sat 29 Dec 2018 16:06GMT
  • Sun 30 Dec 2018 05:32GMT

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