QUAKE SHAKES SIX PROVINCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 11

QUAKE SHAKES SIX PROVINCES.

CHILIAN DISASTER. Heavy Loss of Life Feared ' In Many Towns. STATE OF SIEGE DECLARED. United press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, January 25. Six provinces of Chile—Maule, Nuble, Concepcion, Biobi and Cautin, ■with a total population of 1,600,000, were affected by a severe earthquake shortly before midnight. A state of siege was declared in the Talcahuano area, 250 miles south of Santiago, when it was learned that 14 were known to be dead and 67 injured. A quarter of the city was destroyed. A later message says perhaps half Chilian s 40.000 Inhabitants are believed to be casualties. The injured are piled in the streets and the entire city is wrecked. The Government has ordered all amateur wireless operators to co-operate by setting up an emergency communication network throughout Southern Chile. Officials declared it would be days before the full extent of the disaster was known. It was feared the greatest loss of' life would be in small communities far from centres of communication. The first Government motor rescue expedition left Santiago at 5 a.m. The Minister of the Interior has taken over direction of the Army, Navy and police units throughout the area, and local authorities have been placed under Government orders. Thousands of men, women and children have been reported camping in parks and suburbs of the wrecked cities. Many are homeless and others are afraid to return since the slightest shock might cause the already weakened walls to crumble. Fires are burning in some cities. A message from the port of Concepcion, relayed by naval radio from Talcahuano, reports that half of the centre of Conception was destroyed and there are many dead and injured. The inland towns of Parral, Angol and Pailalleque were destroyed. The Governor of Talcahuano has reported that lire is raging there. Telephone and telegraph communication with most of the affected area is cut off and only the scantiest details are obtainable from amateur wireless operators. The seismological observatory at Santiago reported an earthquake of intensity seven on the Rossi-Forel scale, with its centre between Concepcion and Tallan. Simultaneously there was an eruption of the Quizapu volcano near Talca. The shocks extended as far as Mendoza in the Argentine, where terrified townspeople ran out into the streets. Buildings in Valparaiso swayed and windows were broken. There were no injuries. A wireless operator near by reported that a raging fire was visible in Concepcion, which otherwise was in darkness. The United Press Chilian representative, who succeeded in reaching the city of Chilian, reports the death toll there to be at least 10.000.