TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1930, Page 5

TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE

WORST IN LIVING MEMORY FIRE AND TIDAL WAVE FOLLOW. COLOSSAL LOPS OP LIFE. (United Press Association —By Electrifl Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received 8.22 ia'.m.) DELHI, May 6. Over 500 are feared to be dead in Pegu, Burma, as the restilt of an earthquake, followed by fire and a tidal wavo from the rivers Pegu and Sittang last night. Rail and telegraph communications are cut off and medical aid is being [rushed by road. | Fifty were killed and over 200 in I,lured at Rangoon, where the shocks 'were the worst in living memory. Many buildings, including the'High Court and Catholic Cathedral were severely damaged. A majority of the casualties occurred at the Mosque and a five-storey building which collapsed, burying all the occupants alive. The population fled panic-stricken from the houses and spent the remainder of the night, in parks and open spaces.

THREE SHOCKS FELT. HUNDREDS CRUSHED OR. BURNT. OTHERS OVERWHELMED BY WATER. (Received 10.52 a.m.) DELHI, May 6, , The latest reports from Rangoon estimate the Pegu dead at from 500 to 700. The town experienced three shocks. Terrible scenes were witnessed at Panphlaing Seite, an area of two miles, which was destroyed by fire, hundreds being crushed or burnt to death. Fifty perished at a Myochite cinema. Following the first shock, the town was plunged into darkness and fire broke out in the bazaar area, wooden buildings being quickly ablaze. Terrified inhabitants fled and encountered water, four feet deep, from the broken mains. They were later overwhelmed by the tidal wave from the river.