U.S. SHIPS FOR BALI RESCUE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 15

U.S. SHIPS FOR BALI RESCUE

Villagers Race Before Lava (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, March 26. Two United States Navy vessels moved into Bali’s disaster zone today to remove refugees who have experienced seven days of volcanic terror. United Press International reported from Denpasar, Bali. The Navy LST’s were taking aboard 5000 refugees from coastal towns —the first of a total of 332,000 Balinese whose removal from the island has been recommended by rescuers after the eruption of sacred Mount Agung.

The number to be taken off the island would total nearly one out of every five persons under the rescue plan. Sudden cloudbursts today touched off floods in southwestern Bali. A 600-foot-wide tide of lava from Agung volcano thundered through a valley near Muntjan today, isolating some Balinese and scattering others in panic, the Associated Press said. Villagers still in Muntjan raced from the village to cross a bridge spanning a canyon which divides dangerous and safe zones On the other side of the bridge, other Balinese urged them on with terrified shouts as lava, raising mushroomshaped clouds of sulphur smoke at least 500 ft high, came rushing toward the bridge Lava Carries Debris Balinese screamed in panic las lava thundered past, splashing against pillars of the bridge Grey, warm lava rushed past at enormous speed carrying tree trunks and other debris Officials said that as far as they could determine there were no casutlties but that some villagers were cut off by the new laval flow. Expert* said the new lava flow was unleashed by ram which loosened natural barriers that had held back lava ash piled up on the slopes of Agung In Djakarta, the Governor of Bali (Mr A. B Sutedja) today denied reports that the death toll of the Mount Agung eruption had jumped to 11,000

He told a press conference that the official figure till March 21 was 1478 but he added the figure might be increasing He said 53.670 hectares of land —one-fifth of the islandhad been destroyed by lava and hot mud while 75.000 persons needed immediate help. To cultivate the land it needs two years and to feed the people it needs 30 tons of rice a day. the Governor said He said he had reported the disaster to President Soekarno who had instructed his Ministers to collect funds and aids to help the eruption victims Mi Sutedja said the northern part of the volcano was most heavily hit by lava, involving some 35.000 hec-

' tares of the most promising , crops. Forty thousand persons have been willing to be evacuated to South Sumatra. [Central Borneo. Ceram and [central Celebes, he said The lava stream split the district of Karangasem. southeast of Agung. into three separate parts so that many of the local populace could I not be rescued, which made i rescue necessary from air and I sea. I The Governor said a village called Srongga. 10 miles from Agung's crater, has been completely levelled by hot mud Only 900 out of its 1900 inhabitants could be saved In the village of Amed. on the south-eastern coast. 3000 persons still could not be rescued because the village was entirely surrounded by boiling lava. Aid could only reach them from the sea. the Governor said The Indonesian Air Force has sent two helicopters from Malang. East Java, to Den Pasar. capital of Bali to evacuate the people and 825 bombers and Hercules transport planes will soon leave Djakarta for Bali, according to Djakarta Radio today The radio said the Navy has sent two ships to the east coast of Bali and the Army is sending rescue teams and ambulances Australia To Give £25,000 (N.Z Press Assn.— Copyright I CANBERRA. March 26. The Australian Government [will give £25.000 to assist refugees from the eruption of Mount Agung. the Minister for External Affairs (Sir Garfield Barwick) said today He said the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia. Mr K C. O Shann. had been asked to convey the offer to the Indonesian Government Sir Garfield Barwick said that the Commonwealth also had sent a message conveying Australian sympathy.