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Montenegro

Montenegro Then And Now: 45 Years After Devastating Earthquake

On April 15, 1979, a devastating earthquake struck the coast of Montenegro, killing 101 people and injuring over 1,000. Presented here is a collection of images that capture that eventful moment in time and how it appears today.

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Numerous landmarks were either damaged or destroyed when the earthquake struck off the coast of Montenegro on April 15, 1979. The Hotel Slavia in Budva is one such building that was destroyed. Today, the Hotel Slovenska Plaza Resort, built in 1984, stands on the site.

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Numerous landmarks were either damaged or destroyed when the earthquake struck off the coast of Montenegro on April 15, 1979. The Hotel Slavia in Budva is one such building that was destroyed. Today, the Hotel Slovenska Plaza Resort, built in 1984, stands on the site.
1 Numerous landmarks were either damaged or destroyed when the earthquake struck off the coast of Montenegro on April 15, 1979.

The Hotel Slavia in Budva is one such building that was destroyed. Today, the Hotel Slovenska Plaza Resort, built in 1984, stands on the site.

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The damage from the earthquake was immense. However, the real loss was the damage to Montenegro's 1,600 cultural and historical monuments, such as the Church-Mosque in Ulcinj. Located along the southern coast in the old town of Ulcinji, many houses were not rebuilt. 

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The damage from the earthquake was immense. However, the real loss was the damage to Montenegro's 1,600 cultural and historical monuments, such as the Church-Mosque in Ulcinj. Located along the southern coast in the old town of Ulcinji, many houses were not rebuilt. 
2 The damage from the earthquake was immense. However, the real loss was the damage to Montenegro's 1,600 cultural and historical monuments, such as the Church-Mosque in Ulcinj. Located along the southern coast in the old town of Ulcinji, many houses were not rebuilt. 

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Workers clear the rubble from a lane following the earthquake. Today, no discernible damage is evident.  

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Workers clear the rubble from a lane following the earthquake. Today, no discernible damage is evident.  
3 Workers clear the rubble from a lane following the earthquake. Today, no discernible damage is evident.
 

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As news of the quake spread, thousands of young people from across Yugoslavia arrived to help with the cleanup.

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As news of the quake spread, thousands of young people from across Yugoslavia arrived to help with the cleanup.
4 As news of the quake spread, thousands of young people from across Yugoslavia arrived to help with the cleanup.

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A view from the pier at Piskan toward Budva

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A view from the pier at Piskan toward Budva
5 A view from the pier at Piskan toward Budva

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The historic town of Kotar on Montenegro's Adriatic coast was also damaged. Pictured is the historic 17th-century Clock Tower, where every loose stone was collected, marked, and later used in its restoration.

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The historic town of Kotar on Montenegro's Adriatic coast was also damaged. Pictured is the historic 17th-century Clock Tower, where every loose stone was collected, marked, and later used in its restoration.
6 The historic town of Kotar on Montenegro's Adriatic coast was also damaged. Pictured is the historic 17th-century Clock Tower, where every loose stone was collected, marked, and later used in its restoration.

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Many foreign specialists and institutions, including UNESCO, worked for decades to restore damaged cultural and historical sites such as this one located within King Nikola's Palace in Bar.  

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Many foreign specialists and institutions, including UNESCO, worked for decades to restore damaged cultural and historical sites such as this one located within King Nikola's Palace in Bar.  
7 Many foreign specialists and institutions, including UNESCO, worked for decades to restore damaged cultural and historical sites such as this one located within King Nikola's Palace in Bar.
 

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Before-and-after pictures show a small lane in the Old Town of Budva favored by tourists.

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Before-and-after pictures show a small lane in the Old Town of Budva favored by tourists.
8 Before-and-after pictures show a small lane in the Old Town of Budva favored by tourists.

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"Let people remember that we are in a fragile area, let them listen to nature because it is more powerful than man," Nada Radovic told RFE/RL at the time. Radovic would later publish a book on the earthquake and how it affected areas such as Kotar (pictured).

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"Let people remember that we are in a fragile area, let them listen to nature because it is more powerful than man," Nada Radovic told RFE/RL at the time. Radovic would later publish a book on the earthquake and how it affected areas such as Kotar (pictured).
9 "Let people remember that we are in a fragile area, let them listen to nature because it is more powerful than man," Nada Radovic told RFE/RL at the time. Radovic would later publish a book on the earthquake and how it affected areas such as Kotar (pictured).
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RFE/RL's Balkan Service

In 2019, RFE/RL's Balkan Service marked 25 years of reporting in one of the world’s most contested regions, championing professionalism and moderation in a media landscape that is sharply divided along ethnic and partisan lines.

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Jasna Vukicevic

Jasna Vukicevic is a correspondent in the Podgorica bureau of RFE/RL's Balkan Service.

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