ETNA ERUPTION

Evening Star, Issue 20023, 14 November 1928, Page 4

ETNA ERUPTION

m m OF CESSATION THREE TIWNS DESTROYED Fnu A»io«s«tion—By Telegraph— Copyright _ LONDON, November 12. A graphic picture of the desolation caused by the Mount Etna eruption is contained in a special message cabled to the ‘ Evening Standard ’ from Sicily. The disaster has rendered 5,000 families homeless. It has wiped out three towns and ”60 houses, 2,700 acres of wine crop are withered, one of the world’s richest lemon tree valleys is buried, and bridges, railways, and roads have been overwhelmed. The eruption continues unabated, and great clouds of smoke and five are coming from a new' crater far from the summit. Signor Corves followed the java stream for six miles, . starting a few hundred yards from the crater, where the intense heat brought him to a standstill. Ho says: •' A smoke pall a mile high hangs over the crater, and now and again a gigantic wall of fire sweeps skywards.

The air is thick with small pellets and hot rocks. A red wav© spills over the edge and forces its way downward, and each gust adds. thousands of tons to the stream, which means that it progresses at least syds further. After a five-hour walk I reached Mascali. Hero therf is a solid wall 100 ft high vertically across tho one-time town square, and only seven houses arc left. While the stream is flowing on eastward of Mascali the roar and the smoke arc increasing as trees and isolated houses aro devoured. Carraba is yet untouched, although its doom is sealed. The lava is to-day on the outskirts, but it is with tho utmost difficulty that the peasants can he induced to leave. Evacuation is a nioro pathetic sight than desolation. It is impossible to forecast when the flow will cease. Last night the crater was quieter, but today it is more active. The township or Glams must ho saved at all costs, but happily tho danger is not immediate. Tho stream will probably reach the sea. and form a new headland, just as the neighbouring headland was formed 4.000 years ago ’’—Australian Rress Association.