‘International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes’ championed by Uzbekistan

The International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes on 29 April was championed by Uzbekistan, which hosted a major global commemoration event in Tashkent with more than 200 representatives from over 22 countries.

Tashkent, 29 April 2026 — The world is marking the first commemoration of the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes on 29 April, a new international day established to honour the victims of earthquakes while calling for stronger action to build disaster resilience and prevent future tragedy.

The Day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly last year to be observed annually on 29 April, was championed by Uzbekistan, which hosted a major global commemoration event in Tashkent with more than 200 representatives from over 22 countries. The event included a wreath‑laying ceremony at the Monument of Courage, built in memory of the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Tashkent in 1966.

The event was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Mr. Ramatov calling the day “An act of remembrance, solidarity and expressing the need for International cooperation”. He set out the detailed set of laws and policies Uzbekistan has adopted in recent years, from increasing monitoring stations, to building codes and public awareness. 

The observance was attended by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary‑General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Kamal Kishore, who emphasised:

“This day highlights two central themes: remembrance and resilience. Remembrance for all those we have lost, and for all who continue to carry the physical, emotional and economic scars of earthquake disasters. And resilience ‑ building to ensure that earthquakes do not claim lives, destroy homes, disrupt economies or bring down hard ‑ won development gains."

Earthquakes are among the deadliest natural hazards. In the first two decades of this century, earthquakes — and resulting tsunamis — were responsible for nearly 60 per cent of all disaster‑related deaths. Yet it is not the shaking of the ground itself that causes most fatalities, but the collapse of homes, buildings and infrastructure that are not built to withstand seismic risk. This makes resilience‑building through better planning, safer construction, enforcement of regulations and stronger risk awareness essential to reducing earthquake deaths and economic losses. 

This call for resilience building is echoed by UN Secretary‑General, António Guterres, in his global message marking the Day:

“ Effective precautions – from regular drills, to stronger building codes, to better urban planning – are key to protecting communities. And international solidarity is vital for response and recovery ,” the UN Secretary‑General said, adding that “ with intention and forethought, we can build safer towns and cities, however hard the ground shakes .”

To raise awareness and strengthen preparedness, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) - tasked by the General Assembly to facilitate the observance of the Day - has launched a global campaign entitled “Drop. Cover. Hold on.”

The campaign promotes simple, life‑saving actions to take during an earthquake and calls on national governments, cities, schools and workplaces to conduct micro earthquake drills at least twice a year, including on 29 April, to help make safe behaviour an automatic reflex when the ground begins to shake.

The International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes provides an annual opportunity for remembrance and renewed commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods from earthquake disasters. It also reinforces the priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which calls for understanding disaster risk, investing in resilience and enhancing preparedness to “build back better” after disasters.