Rain adds to misery in shock-hit Adriatic

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 8

Rain adds to misery in shock-hit Adriatic

NZPA-Reuter Titograd, Yugoslavia Pouring rain has added to the misery of tens of thousands of homeless people spending their third night in the open after Yugoslavia’s worst earthquake. Aftershocks continued to hamper rescue efforts. Despite the urgent despatch of relief supplies, especially tents, to the devastated region in the south of Yugoslavia’s Adriatic coast, many of the 80,000 homeless had only umbrellas and blankets to protect them from the rain. The downpour also extinguished fires lit to keep them warm. At least 200 persons were killed by a series of earthquakes that struck on Easter Sunday. Experts were yesterday studying the implications of

geographical changes caused by the shocks, which struck with the force of a hydrogen bomb.

An army officer said on Yugoslavian television: “We are investigating reports that hills are moving.” The earthquakes caused chunks of coastline to tumble into the sea, and opened wide fissures in mountainsides inland.

They also changed the course of the Bojana River, which runs along the border with Albania and it is now threatening widespread floods. More than 350 after-shocks have hit the region since Sunday’s earthquakes. The latest caused fresh damage, and several persons were injured jumping from windows in the few still-habitable houses. The after-shocks and rain also slowed the pace of re-

lief efforts, sending rocks and mud slithered on to roads.

The economy of the region is in ruins, tourism, industry, and merchant shipping al) badly hit. Officials said the loss of revenue from tourists in the popular holiday region would be SSOM this year alone. Most of the region's main hotels have been destroyed or damaged on the eve of the summer season. The earthquake is believed to have destroyed 70 per cent of houses, and badly disrupted road, rail, and sea communications. All schools have been closed.

The police said they were investigating reports that panic had been maliciously spread by rumours that more big tremors were likely. Officials said such reports had been carried by foreign radio stations, which they did not identify.