WEST PERSIA EARTHQUAKE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28463, 18 December 1957, Page 15

WEST PERSIA EARTHQUAKE

Death Roll May Be 2000

(Rec. 11 p.m.) TEHERAN, Dee. 17.

The Red Lion and Sun Society, Persia's equivalent of the Red Cross, said last night that .1082 victims of last Friday’s disastrous earthquake in West Persia had been buried so far. Local authorities estimated that the death roll was 2000. Of those buried, 812 were from the village of Farsinaj. The society said that Princess Shams, its head, who is sister of the Shah, planned to visit the stricken areas. Teheran Radio last night appealed for tents, blankets and clothes for the victim* of the earthquake. Tremors continued in the stricken areas yesterday. More houses with wooden beams and roofs crumbled. According to one eyewitness there is not one undamaged house in Farsinaj, where almost all the dwellings collapsed. The village’s wealthy landowner, Mr Salar Khazaii, said that he had lost 47 relatives—sons, daughters, grandchildren, sisters and brothers—and had lost all bis property.

Malayan Surrenders (Rec.‘ 7 p.m.) KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 16.

A total of 122 Communist terrorists had surrendered since the Government made its “new and final” surrender offer on September 3, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister, said today. The Tunku said that in the light of these surrenders the Government’s offer would be extended from December 31 to April 30, 1958.

It was noteworthy that of the 122 surrenders, 36 were terrorists of the rank of branch committee member or above, he said.