Ugandan ’Quake Kills 82

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31016, 23 March 1966, Page 19

Ugandan ’Quake Kills 82

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

BUNDIBUGYO (Uganda), March 22. Fresh earth tremors during the night crumbled mud and wattle huts into dust in Bwamba county of western Uganda where at least 82 people died in Sunday’s severe earthquake.

The new shocks fed the fears of superstitious Africans who believe the tremors will continue for nine days, as they did in 1929, when the last major earthquake followed the crowning of a King of Toro, one of Uganda’s constituent kingdoms. Sunday’s earthquake came just a fortnight after the coronation of Toro’s new King Patrick, who until a few months ago was a schoolboy at Sherborne, England. The 20-year-old King has evacuated his modern palace in Fort Portal, the Toro capital Great cracks now yawn in the walls of the palace, completed last year and built in the shape of a coronet. Practically the whole population of Fort Portal have abandoned their homes and are sleeping in the streets for fear of further earthquakes. The latest police death toll is 82, but reliable reports say mere than 100 persons have died and it is feared the final total may top 200 The num-

ber of injured runs into hundreds. In Bwamba county, in the shadow of the Ruenzoris—the fabled mountains of the moon—few buildings have been left standing. Most homes ■Were mud huts which crumbled | under the shock but even i solidly-built shops have col- ! lapsed or are leaning at crazy I angles.