’QUAKE AND ERUPTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 December 1936, Page 7

’QUAKE AND ERUPTION

CENTRAL AMERICAN DISASTER HEAVY DEATH ROLL [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] SAN SALVADOR. December 20. San Vincente, a city with a population of 25,000. in the lake region of Salvador, 25 miles east of here, was virtually destroyed by the combined effects of an earthquake and the eruption of the volcano San Vincente. Seven nearby villages were also razed. First reports say that 200 are dead and 400 injured in San Vincente alone. Rod Cross and volunteer workers are busy digging the dead from the ruined homos and st ndin., the wounded to San Salvador. Tiie earthquake occurred in the middle ol the night during a procession in honour of San Vincente's patron saint of the same name, and caused wild confusion. The electric lights went out Lava descended and a cloud (f dust covered tho city. Houses crumbled. Many terrified survivors arc fleeing from the district for fear of a second eruption, which is indicated by the continued activity of the volcano. The estimate of the number injured was raised to SOO on the return of tho President, General Martinex, from a tour of inspection of the stricken area. Evacuation efforts are being rushed because sulphur has contaminated all the water supplies of San Vincente, where the suffering has been increased through intense cold and a high wind. All available trains and automobiles arc being used to carry the injured to the hospitals, which are already crowded.