NATIONAL TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 19856, 3 May 1928, Page 9

NATIONAL TRAGEDY

THE BULGARIAN EARTHQUAKE TERRIBLE SCENES OF DEVASTATION BRITISH PRESS CORRESPONDENT'S STORY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 1.50 p.xa.) The ‘ Daily Express’s ’ special correspondent, who is the first British correspondent to arrive at Sofia, states that terrible devastation and distress still reigns at Philippopolis and other centres. He describes it as easily the worst calamity that has befallen the country. In all, 400,000 people are homeless and sheltering in the gardens in the centre of the city and in the open fields on the outskirts, and sleeping in goods trucks. Seven children were born in the fields last night. Earth tremors continued up to tonight. The Prime Ministo. vM. Lapcheff) was overjoyed to see a British correspondent in order that the world could know' for the first time the real magnitude of this national tragedy. The correspondent describes a motor journey of 250 miles through Central and South-eastern Bulgaria. Everywhere there rvas C same story. Prosperous villages Avere an unrecognisable mass of ruins. Injured people are still suffering incredible agonies. The roadAA'ays are impassable for many miles oAving to the floods. Great lakes suddenly formed, swamping the mins. The most tragic of all is Philippopolis. Entire streets have been, wiped out. Over 4,500 buildings have been demolished, 8,000 partly, and 3,000 are uninhabitable, while the others are erect, though split in twain. ElseAvhere whole sides have been curiously lifted away. Not an hour of the day passes without a fresh structure collapsing with a roar. The rain is still falling. All civil functionaries lm'6 established offices under canvas. The Supreme and Criminal Courts are Avorking in tents. The hospitals are in tents. Dressing stations and dispensaries, flying the Red Cross flag, have been established at every street corner. The grave scarcity of doctors and nurses is adding to the horror.

Although the neighboring countries promised to rush supplies, they are late in arriving.

Bulgaria calls to the world for aid. —Australian Press Association.