On 10 November 1940 , a devastating earthquake occurred . The epicenter of the quake , which measured 7.4 ( or 7.7 , according to other sources ) on the Richter scale , was in Vrancea Mountains and subsequently led to substantial destruction : 78 deaths and 2,795 affected buildings ( of which 172 destroyed )
earthquake
1940 Vrancea earthquake
Chișinău