EXTENSIVE EARTHQUAKE FOLLOWED BY FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 162, 22 April 1935, Page 5

EXTENSIVE EARTHQUAKE FOLLOWED BY FIRE

TOTAL OF 2495 KILLED, 5770 PEOPLE INJURED.

VILLAGES IN THREE PROVINCES COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED.

HEROIC RESCUE EFFECTED BY POLICE AND RED CROSS.

... (United Press Association—Copyright) . (Received; This Day, 10.35 a.m.) TOKIO, April 21. A severe earthquake occurred in Formosa at G a.m. ' It is beieved that eight members of the Presbyterian Church and the Church of England, stationed at Skokwa, near Taichu, headed by Dr. Landsborough, are attempting to establish contact. A message from Taihoku states that official figures of the victims. are: /.Dead 2495 Injured 5770 Houses destroyed 12,122 Houses damaged 11,346 The epicentre of the earthquake is believed to have been 20 miles •porth-east of Taichu. ■' - The heaviest casualties and damage occurred at Taichu, Shinchikou, ' and Shokeelung, all west of the central mountain range, also at Kaienko, on the east.coast. The. municipal office at Taichit City reports that three missionaries, believed to be British, are safe. It has hot heard of any foreign deaths. Formosa's worst earthquake was experienced at Houtoeing, and it is revealed that in countless cases whole families were killed. Three provinces were severely rocked; Several villages in the Shinchikou Province were levelled, and railways and telegraphs disrupted indefinitely. Landslides buried railway tracks, wrecked bridges and caused tunnels to collapse. A Defence. Corps aeroplane which was forced back by strong winds reported that fires were causing havoc in villages and on the farms. Previously Formosa's most severe earthquake was in' 1906, when 1300 were killed. The whole of the main street of Taichu City was demolished, killing 100 outright. The town of Taiko was practically destroyed. Police and members of the Red Cross . heroically -rescued the injured.