On October 6, Turkmenistan marked the National Day of Remembrance of the 1948 Ashkhabad earthquake. On this day, national flags were lowered, memorial services were held and traditional Sadaka (ritual meals) were given across the country in memory of the earthquake victims, the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended a mourning ceremony and laid a wreath of flowers at the Eternal Flame of the Memorial to the victims of the Ashkhabad earthquake.

Members of the Cabinet of Ministers, leadership of the Mejlis, ministries and departments, public organizations, elders, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Turkmenistan, members of foreign delegations gathered at the monument in the historic center of the Turkmen capital. Thousands of Ashgabat residents came here to pay tribute to relatives and friends and all fellow countrymen who prematurely died in the earthquake.

As is known, on the night of 6 October 1948, at 1 hour 12 minutes, one of the world most powerful earthquakes, reaching 10 points on the Richter scale, struck Ashgabat and its suburbs. 176 thousand people died in the Ashgabat earthquake.

It should be recalled that by a presidential decree October 6 was declared a day-off in Turkmenistan in 1995.