HEAVY TOLL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12536, 24 April 1935, Page 5

HEAVY TOLL

EARTHQUAKE IN FORMOSA. MANY VILLAGES WIPED OUT. BEER. BOXES AS ,COFFINS. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright) TOIQO, April 22. An aeroplane survey shows that 'the, earthquake devastated 2000 square mile of country from Shin- j chiqku to Taicliu, inland as far as tho central range. It is apparent that many villages have been wiped out, and scores of men trapped in gold, copper, anti coal mines in the affected areas. The air corps dropped relief bundles of medical supplies to villagers and mountaineers, mostly Cbfji&se and Taiwanese, who were trapped w,hen landslides buried .tunnels and mountain passes, preventing relief workers from ostablir-jhiilg eontact with them. Many '.sections of the island’s railway are a total loss. Owing to .the shortage of coffins, villagers are using beer boxes. Minor shocks still continue. The whole oif tlio main street of Tnichu city was demolished, lulling 10P people outright. The town of Taiko is practically do strayed. Polio? and Red Cross workers are heroically rescuing the injured people. Mt. Asnnta Yamn, which commenced to erupt with lava on Saturday, ceased on Sunday. Smoke and fire belched from tho crater in the worst eruption since 1929. Lava set fire to farm-houses. The heaviest casualties and damage were experienced at Taicliu, Shinehikou, and Shokoolung, all west of the central mountain range, and also at Karonko, on the east coast. Reports are hourly revealing countless cases of tragedy. Whole families were killed. Three ■ provinces were severely rocked. Several villages in the Shinchikon Province wor:?. levelled. The railway and telegraph services have been .disrupted indefinitely. Landslides buried railway tracks, wrecked bridges, and caused tunnels to collapse. A defence corps aeroplane, which was forced back by strong winds, reported that fires were causing havoc in the villages and on farmsFormosa’s most severe earthquake previously was in 1906 t when 1300 people were killed.

FISSURES ENGULF VILLAGES r(U.P.A. by Elec. Tel Copyright) (Received April 23, 10 p.m.) TOKIO, April 23. Carrier pigeons are bringing the latest details of the results of the earthquake. The damage to property is estimated at £5,-500,C00. Huge fissures appeared, engul'fiucr whole villages. The natives call them “Devils with laughing mouths.” Further .shocks were recorded on Monday. £» DEATHS OVER 3000 DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT 10.000.000 YEN (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright.) TOKIO, April 23. The latest official earthquake figures ..show that 3185 persons an? dead and 9478 injured, while '31,000 houses were destroyed or partially wrecked. It is estimated that the number of homeless will approach 100,000. Relief workers are now beginning to cope with the .situation. There have been 40 minor shakes recorded since (> a.nt. on Sunday. Despatches from Taihoku report that the people are huddling in panic, .fearing further shocks, and alarming rumours of tidal, waves. Although t.lio entire island was shaken, the biggest toll was confined to an area 40 miles in diameter, north of Taichu, especially the Toy a, hara district. Naiho reports 6CO dead, and Kamo!ka 450 dead. The town i.s now burning. AH British missionaries have been located, and are safe. At Toyahara, where there are 1300 dead, SO per cent, off the houses were razed, and few were not injured. Scenes of thousands have not fed since the first shock. Hundreds of children have been orphaned. One hundred of those were '.found in one place, waiting beside their dead parents. The damage at present is estimated at 10,000,0d0 yen. Industries apparently have not been badly damaged. The Government lias allocated 16,000,000 yen to relief and reconstruction.