QUAKE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1935, Page 5

QUAKE DISASTER

IN BALUCHISTAN

MANY BELIEVED TO BE DEAD.

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received this day at 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. Quetta, the capital of British Baluchistan, was .severely rocked by an earthquake. Jt is believed many have been killed, ineludng Government officials .and civilians. Rail w av areas have been devastated, hut the military areas are undamaged. Sir Alexander Cater telephoned to the Punjab Government to rush nurses and doctors to the scene. heavy toll of life

CITY BUILDINGS RAZED

(Received this day at 10.10 a.m.; LONDON, May 31. The casualties include forty-tfirfec Air Force members. The whole city was razed, and telegraph lines have been dislocated. ” The shocks varied in intensity, lasting uctwcen 30> and 60 seconds. All' buildings in the countryside between Quetta and Kalat have been • It is reported four-fifths of the population are killed.

widespread havoc results.

DEATH ROLL ESTIMATES VARY

(Received this day at 10.0 a.m.) CALCUTTA, May 31. Widespread havoc was caused by an earthquake of great intensity, which rocked northern India at 3 o’clock m the morning. The epicentre is believed to be in Afghanistan, 150 miles northwest of Quetta. Quetta was the most severe sufferer. All communications are broken, hut wireless messages report the city hao been devastated. More than a thousand wer e killed, including prominent European Government. officials, their wives and children. Forty-three Royal Air Force mien were killed, and thirty are missing. The whole police force is said to be wiped out. • i lie staff college, is understood not to be severely affected, all the staff officers being safe. Tuo town of Mastnng, about thirty miles from Quetta, was destroyed, and four-fifths of the. population killed. Severe damage was done to tile surrounding villages.

HOUSES TOPPLE EVERYWHERE

SHOCKS THROUGHOUT DISTRICT.

\Rcccived this clay at 11.30 a.in.) LONDON, May 31. Unconfirmed reports state tj'ieie were 30,000 deaths at Quetta alone. The British garrison, the majority of whom were uninjured, assisted him Indian .troops in the extrication cf hundreds of injured people. The majority of the casualties occurred in the congested native city, where the houses toppled one upon the oQier. The panic-stricken inhabitants rushed out into the narrow streets where they were overwhelmed as the structures crashed. Refuge camps were established on the race course, and in the grounds of the Residency, where Sir Alexander Cater previously had a miraculous escape, leaving with his household as the bungalow fell like a pack of cards. The casualties to members of the Air Force do not include the officers. The shocks were felt in ail the upper districts. At Sind people were hurled from their beds and ran into the open.