Chilean Earthquake Kills 20,000 People In Four Cities Alone

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1939, Page 9

Chilean Earthquake Kills 20,000 People In Four Cities Alone

(Received 10 a.m.) , SANTIAGO (Chile), January 27. STORIES OF RICH COMMUNITIES DESTROYED, THOUSANDS KILLED AND HUNDRDCDS OF THOUSANDS FACING THE THREAT OF DISEASE AND FAMINE ARE TOLD IN THE STILL FRAGMENTARY REPORTS FROM THE EARTHQUAKE Z ONE. *' The deaths may reach over 20,000 in four cities alone. An ■official estimate of the dead today was as follows:—Cauquennes, 5000; Concepcion, 3000; San Rosendo, 2000; Chilian, 10,000. An offer of aid from President Roosevelt has been received by the Chilean Government. ' ’ A United States army bomber is expected to leave Panama today carrying gangrene and typhoid serums and concentrated foods. Following an inspection carried out by Government officials who flew over the devastated areas, the complete evacuation and at least temporary, if not permanent, abandonment of Chilian and Concepcion was ordered.

■ Meanwhile, a pitifully small army of rescue workers, toiling against heavy odds in almost unbearable heat and with insufficient drinking water, continued feverishly to bury the dead, aid those injured and imprisoned in ruined buildings, and otherwise restore some order from the indescribable chaos. Mining Districts Tom lip. Among the items of serious permanent damage is the tearing up of the coalmining districts, where the diggings are in a dangerous condition and the miners’ homes have been obliterated.

The Argentine, French, German and American airlines are co-operating in ■helping the Government to establish contact with the devastated area.

According to reports from the British ambassador at Santiago, no British lives were lost at Concepcion or Emuco, says a British Official Wireless message, «