Lava Flowing Down Slopes Of Vesuvius

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1944, Page 3

Lava Flowing Down Slopes Of Vesuvius

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. March 21

Thousands of townspeople are evacuating from the slopes of Vesuvius following the worst eruption for years., says the Naples correspondent of the British United Press. The eruption continues and the flow of lava has increased.

An official of the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territory (Lieutenant-Colonel Kincnde), is directing evacuation. Lava from_ erupting Vesuvius has destroyed the villages of San Sebastiano and Massa di Somma in the greatest eruptica since 1872, says the Naples correspondent of the Associated Press. Allied troops had evacuated all villagers before a stream 30 feet high poured over them. No casualties are reported. About 7000 inhabitants of the villages were evacuated with the aid of 200 army vehicles.

By the middle of the morning a massive stream of lava was only half a mile from the much larger town of Cercolo. The main stream between Saa Sebastiano and Massa di Somma J was 90 feet deep in places, sending up flames and sulphurous fumes. Many inhabitants, already sorely tried by the ravages of war, were panicstricken. The flow of lava down the mountainside is increasing. It is travelling at a rate of three miles an hour. Light Blocked Out Vesuvius began a new phase of eruption this evening, belching vast clouds of smoke 5000 feet and blotting out the mountain and the entire bay area opposite Naples. Traffic in Naples ceased when smoke rolled down, reducing visability to almost nil. People rushed into the streets at vantage points around the city watching the terrifying scene. Amgot has announced that in addition to evacuation of 7000 inhabitants from the villages of Massa di Somma and San Sabastiano, that evacuation has begun of a further 17,000 of the populous district of Cercolo on the mountain’s northern slope. Flaming lava continues to engulf houses and larger buildings, and crack bridges. Heat from lava sets fire to trees and fences long before reaching them. San Bastiano has almost completely disappeared. Two of the largest buildings remain, but only the spire of a church sticks up above the devouring stream which is now rolling across the fields towards Cercolo, about a mile awaj r . The Naples correspondent of “The Times” says that progress of destruction is almost maddeningly slow. Lava, nosing its way through vineyards and streets, is crushing everything in its path with a deliberation which is very different from the sudden wrath of bombing. Houses temporarily withstand the great weight, then crash in a cloud of rubble which the creeping mass swallows up. R.A.F. Evacuation Squads

Working desperately in face of approaching streams of lava from Vesuvius, a R.A.F. unit in Naples area helped evacuate people from villages north and west of the volcano, says a ! correspondent at Allied headquarters. Thirty fully-manned trucks were standing by and some immediately were despatched. R.A.F. personnel, with a fleet of transports, worked throughout the night, clearing Sans Bastino which, with the adjoining village of Massa di Comma, have a combined population of between 5000 and 6000. After working 11 hours cn roads choked by evacuees on foot, vith valuables loaded on donkey carts and oxdrawn waggons, the last RA.F. lorry left San Sebastiano at 1 a.m. today. A few minutes later a 40-foot wave of lava poured into the village. Refugees took safety in the nearby hamlet of Pollen Trocchia. : '