MAJOR DISASTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 January 1939, Page 5

MAJOR DISASTER

EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE

SIX PROVINCES INVOLVED VAST DEATH-ROLL l> ?A.- By Electric Telegraph -Copyright! ' (Received 27th January. 9.0 a.m.) I NEW YORK. 26th January, j With details of the terrific earthquake which shook Chile yesterday coming in very slowly, because of the interruption of communication and the censorship imposed by the Government which desires to prevent exaggerations, it is nevertheless indicated that the country has been overtaken by a disaster of the first magnitude. Six provinces, Talca, Maule, Kuble, Concepcion, Biobi. and Cautin, with a total population of 1,600,000, were involved.

A state of siege was declared in the ; Talcahuano area, 250 miles south of Santiago, when it was learned that 14 persons were known to be dead and 67 j injured. A quarter of the city was des- 1 troyed.

The vast death-roll at Chilian seems to be the only one thus far confirmed. It is known, however, that 60 persons are dead in Concepcion, though the injured may be numerous and debris may cover an undetermined number of further dead. The complete physical destruction of Concepcion is. however, known.

Los Anjeles, 62 miles from Concepcion, is also believed to have been wiped out, and it is expected that other large towns have been razed as well as hundreds of smaller places in the rich agricultural and coal-mining region, which is all but demolished. The three-minute earthquake was characterised by an unusual horizontal movement, shaking structures to the ground and preparing the way for immediate fires which completed the damSTUPENDOUS PROBLEM The Chilean Government, which is 1 almost completely dependent on aeroplanes for immediate penetration of the affected areas, was to-night valiantly struggling with the stupendous problem of rescue, relief, prevention of looting, and the general preservation of order, which for the most part is entrusted to the military. The recently-created Socialist militia in this Popular Frontcontrolled nation has been summoned to the task. The Chilean correspondent of the United Press, who flew to the city, proceeded for the last few miles on roads zigzagged with eight-inch cracks. The city is almost totally demolished, and the dead and injut ed are all covered with thick, yellow adobe dust. The enormous death-roll seemed to have stunned the survivors. Two of Chilian’s theatres collapsed, each apparently trapping 200 persons. The massive brick cathedral crumbled. Two doctors worked alone in the hospital, which is still standing, performing 40 operations without anaesthetic. They begged the corex-spondent to ask Santiago authorities to rush gauze, ether, and other medical necessities. En route to Chilian the correspondent saw the ruins of j Miraflores, Longavi, Parral, San Carlos, and Concepcion. EMERGENCY NETWORK The Government has ordered all ! wireless amateurs to co-operate in set-1 ting up an emergency communication I network throughout southern Chile. Officials expressed the opinion that j it would be days before the full extent of the disaster was known. It is feared that the greatest loss of life would be in small communities far from the centres of communication.

The first Government motor rescue expedition left Santiago at five minutes past midnight. The Minister of the Interior took over the direction of army, navy, a id police units throughout the area, and local authorities were placed under Government orders. Thousands of men, women, and chiltl dren are reported to be camping in parks in the suburbs of the wrecked cities. Many are homeless and others are afraid to return home since the e slightest shock might cause the already j" weakened walls to crumble. Is EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL It is now indicated that the first report that 2000 persons are dead in Concepcion, as a result of Chile’s disastrous earthquake, is likely to be accurate. A thousand more are seriously injured and many thousands arc missing from the stricken regions, but it is hoped that these may be safe in the hills where they fled fearful of new I shocks. The British cruisers Exeter and j Ajax, on a courtesy visit to Valparaiso, j volunteered to transport supplies, but j the Government replied, “Thanks, everything is under control.” Foreign steamship lines operating in Chilean waters also offered their vessels, and ; airlines offered their machines to aid l the Government. The vastness of the task of restoration Is seen in the fact that legislative J leaders are preparing the speedy en- j actment of a forced loan of 500.000.000 j pesos for reconstruction purposes. Public collections and funds for the victims j are expected to reach many millions j 1 Reconstruction is expected to prove r specially difficult for the new Popular j 1 Front Government, whose recent elec- j ’ lion has been otherwise beclouded bv j ' many difficult issues and obstructions' from Conservative elements, s A very clear record of the earth-; i quake was obtained at the Dominion j 1 Observatory, Kelburn, the tracing last- 1 ing for fully three hours. No very pronounced after-shocks were record-1 cd after the initial shake. _