CITIZENS FLEE FROM TASHKENT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 17

CITIZENS FLEE FROM TASHKENT

(N Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MOSCOW, May 27.

Thousands of panic-stricken Soviet citizens are fleeing from the Asian city of Tashkent in the wake of four violent earthquakes in less than a month, say witnesses.

Travellers arriving in Moscow from the capital of the Soviet Uzbek Republic said the situation >n Tashkent was deteriorating rapidly, in spite of official efforts to quell panic.

Hospitals were filling up with heart cases and nervous breakdowns, they said. The Kremlin has ordered a “crash programme” to rebuild the large sections of the city wiped out in earthquakes on April 26 and May 10, 24 and 25.

The air service between Moscow and Tashkent has also been doubled and priority given to families who wanted to resettle elsewhere.

The returning travellers said Tashkent schools have been closed and the children evacuated.

Merchants have set up stands in the streets for fear a new series of violent shocks will bring the roofs of their shops tumbling down on them, the travellers reported. But even as nervous refugees made their plans to leave Tashkent minor earth shocks continued to rumble through the city. Only older citizens are prepared to remain in Tashkent 'no matter what, the travellers said.

. The rest of the population has become increasingly ■ panic-stricken.