The high peak accelerations recorded at Karakyr Point during the Ms = 7.2 May 17, 1976 Gazli, U.S.S.R. earthquake have caused considerable interest amongst earthquake engineers particularly in this country where aseismic design of structures is currently based on the N-S component of the Mg = 7.1 May 18, 1940 El Centro, California accelerogram with much lower peak accelerations. Information about the Gazli earthquake is quite scanty. However, because of the interest it has generated it is felt that in spite of the limited information available a preliminary discussion of the record would be useful.