Although the death estimates for Managua might appear low compared with those resulting from other earthquakes, these figures, tragic as they were in themselves, were only one measure of the effects of the Christmas quake. Most of a major city had been wiped out and an entire country dislocated. Nothing as devastating had occurred since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Approximately 250,000 people--more than half the population of Managua--were left homeless. Of the 80,000 buildings in Managua 57,000 were dest royed or severely damaged. Of the remaining, almost all received some degree of damage. More than 300 stores within the city were destroyed, and another 100 on the fringes were damaged, some irreparably, by the quake, fires and looters.

Five square miles in the heart of the city were totally destroyed. An additional five and a half square miles were damaged. These areas contained the greater portion of the city's light, water, sewerage and communications systems. Four hospitals, with a total of 1,650 beds, were destroyed or severely damaged. The value loss to the medical system of the country, including buildings, equipment and supplies, was estimated at $55,000,000. The medical capacity of the country was virtually destroyed.