Volcano, toll likely to be 80

Press, 31 May 1980, Page 8

Volcano, toll likely to be 80

NZPAVancouver, Washing- - ton. The chances, of finding alive any of the 58 people still missing from the explosion of Mount St Helens are nil, officials said yesterday as they decided to suspend - their air search for survivors. If no more survivors are found the total death toll from the huge eruption on May 10 will each 80.

Yesterday’s helicopter 1 flights were the last although ground searches would continue probably for three days, said Lewis County . Sheriff William Wiester.

“They (helicopters) have recrossed, regriddled and reflown for literally thousands and thousands of miles,” said Sheriff Wiester. “We’re not writing off any of the 60-odd people that are still ;■ missing,” said Sheriff Wiester, “but the chances of finding, anyone else alive are nil?\

The air searches have been, carried out by Army and . Washington ‘ National Guard helicopters since the eruption on May 10. Search crews resciied 128 persons in the first two days after the eruption, but since then have found only bodies and a few surviving dogs. • The official death toll rose to 22 yesterday when a man died in a Portland hospital from bums suffered in the mountain’s biggest eruption. The mountain itself was outwardly calm. ;•>: ??■''.