April 29, 1991 Earthquake: Dzhava, Chiatura, Ambrolauri, Georgia

April 29, 1991, 09:12:48.1 UTC, 42.453 N, 43.673 E, depth 17 km, magnitude 6.2 mb,7.0 MS. Western Caucasus. At least 114 killed, about 1000 injured, 70 missing, 67,000 homeless and severe damage (VIII) and landslides in the Dzhova-Chiotura-Ambrolauri area, USSR with 95% of buildings destroyed in the area. Felt (VI) in the Kutoisi area; (V) at Leninakan and Tbilisi; (IV) at Kiravakan and Spitak. Felt throughout the western Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus from Sukhumi to Groznyy and Yerevan, USSR. Landslides crated a natural dam on the Patas River. This was reached several days later, causing additional damage in the Dzhava-Tshinvali Provinces, Turkey. Two events about three seconds apart. Depth from broadband displacement seismograms based on second event. (reference #1053)

April 29, 1991, 270 killed, $1700 million damage. (reference #1250)

The destructive Racha earthquake occurred on April 29, 1991 in the northern part of Georgia. The earthquake of magnitude M= 6.9 and intensity in epicentre IX (MSK scale) had a focus of about 5 km depth. (2) Analysis of seismodislocations emerged in the epicentral area showed that they are mainly rockfalls, landslides rock avalanches and displacements in unstable degradational slopes. (reference #1281)