EARTHQUAKE HAVOC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 28 January 1939, Page 9

EARTHQUAKE HAVOC

DEATH-ROLL IN CHILE 20,000 IN FOUR CITIES ALONE RESCUE WORKERS TOIL AGAINST HEAVY ODDS By Electric Telegraph—Copy right] (Received 28th January, 9.0 a.m.) NEW YORK, 27th January. Stories of rich communities destroyed, thousands killed and hundreds of thousands facing the threats of disease and famine are told in the still fragmentary reports from Chile’s earthquake zone reaching New York to-day. Deaths may reach 20,000 in four cities alone. Official estimates of the dead are as follows: At Cauquennes, 5000; at Concepcion, 3000; at San Rosendo, 2000; and at Chilian, 10,000; and from a host of villages and small towns the toll is mounting hourly. Following an aerial inspection by Government officials of the devastated areas, which they described as "Danteesque,” the complete evacuation and at least the temporary, if not the permanent, abandonment of Chilian and Concepcion have been ordered.

A long parade of automobiles and vehicles of all descriptions carrying survivors has begun a trek to the north over dangerous cracked roads. Other survivors are being evacuated by sea. UNBEARABLE HEAT Meanwhile a pitifully-small army of rescue workers is toiling against heavy odds In almost unbearable heat and v ith insufficient drinking water. to bury the bead, aid the injured and those imprisoned in ruined buildings and otherwise to restore order from indescribable chaos. Among (he items of Serious permanent damage is the tearing Up Of coalmining district, where diggings are in a dangerous condition and the miners’ homes obliterated. Argentine, French, German and American airliners are co-operating in helping the Government to establish ccntact with the devastated area. An offer of aid from President Roosevelt has been received in Santiago. A United States Army bomber is expected to leave Panama carrying gangrene and typhoid serums and concentrated foods. NO BRITISH LIVES LOST AT CONCEPTION OR EMUCO IBrtish Official Wire I peal (Received 28th January, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY. 27th January. Reports from the British Ambassador at Santiago states that no British lives were lo?t at Conception or Emuco.