HISTORIC EARTHQUAKES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 4 September 1923, Page 7

HISTORIC EARTHQUAKES

The record of earthquake disaster in different parts of the world through the ages is a very long one, and the death roll runs into many millions. In modern times the first great earthquake, and to this day one of the worst ever known, was that which on ist November, 1755, destroyed Lisbon. In eight minutes moat of the houses and upwards of 50,000 inhabitants were destroyed. There was tremendous loss of life -in other cities of Portugal, in Spain, Morocco, Madeira, and -the Greek Archipelago. The shock extended over 5000 miles, and was felt even in Scotland.'

In 1822 Aleppo (Syria) was destroyed with the loss of about 20,000 lives. In 1855' there were severe and disastrous earthquakes in Anatolia, Central Europe, Japan, and New Zealand (the Wellington earthquake). In 1868 the cities of Arequipa, Iquiqui, Tacna, and Chencha, in Peru, were destroyed and about 25,000 lives lost. The loss of property was. estimated at about £60 - 000,000. In 1886 the City of Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A., was threefourths destroyed, with a loss of life of about 100. In 1897 the great Indian earthquake occurred in North-east India in a sparsely populated country. The loss of life was not great, but the face of the land in many places permanently , altered. In 1902 St. Pierre Martinique, with 3000- inhabitants^ was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Pelee. In 1905 took place the Kanayra earthquake in Northern India, with a loss of life of about 20,000. ' In 1906 the City of San Francisco 'was practically wrecked earthquake, and fire completed the destruction. The loss of life was estimated at 1000, and of property at £60,000,000. In the same year Valparaiso was visited by an earthquake, which resulted in great loss of live and damage. In 1908 (occurred the 'great earth*quake which destroyed Messina (Sicily) and Reggio, on the other side of the strait, with a total loss of life estimated at 20,000. The whole shape of the coast-line at. Messina was altered In January, 1915, Italy again suffered from a most disastrous earthquake in the central district of Avezzano. Few of the inhabitants escaped, and the total loss of life was estimated at over 30,000. Avezzano and several other cities were totally destroyed. Last year Chile was again the scene of a dreadful earthquake, resulting in heavy loss of life and damage to property. On 12th November the northern part of Central Chile, covering the provinces of Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquinbo, was severely shaken, and several towns, including Coquinbo, Vallenar, and Copiapo, destroyed. An area of 140 miles by 100 miles was denuded of houses. The loss of life was 548, and the injured numbered 837, according to official estimate.