CHILEAN DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18247, 14 November 1922, Page 7

CHILEAN DISASTER.

OVER 1000 DEAD. THREE TOWNS DESTROYED, OUTBREAK OF LOOTING. ORIGIN OF EARTHQUAKE. RIFT IN PACIFIC BED. TERRIFIC TIDAL WAVES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrisnt. deceived 7.35 p.m.) A. and N.Z. NEW YORK. Nov. 13. According to further despatches :rem Santiago, the earthquake and tidal wave disaster along the northern coast cf Chile, is even greater than was first reported. Tho dead number at least 1000, and the total loss of life may bo very much greater. The city of Vallenar and surrounding villages were completely destroyed. Thousands of people are homeless in the provinces of Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquinibo. The Meteorological Institute, explaining the cosmographic character of the upheaval, declares lliat the movement of th'e ocean gave evidence of a terrific disturbance in the bed of the Pacific, which resulted in such a tearing of the bottom that immense quantities of water were j tucked back, causing an unprecedented recession of the sea along the Chilean | coa«t. Several times the water swept j outward, returning in the shape of a ! great wave that destroyed everything before it. The institute declares that tho j earth shock coincided with the passage of i a sunspot over the central meridian of the ; sun. which began on November 5: Tho i shock began at tha end of an abnormally j hot day. I

A message from Buenos Aires states that a series of new earthquakes, vast seas, and electrical storms hindered greatly the rescue work in Northern Chile and added to the list of casualties and property damage. Communication with the stricken area is still impossible. All news is coming via Valparaiso, which itself was slightly damaged by earthquakes.

Coquimbo and Copiapo, which were completely obliterated, are now the scene of inhuman looting. The dead and injured are being robbed, and the rescuers are hampered by groups of armed men who are taking valuables at will.

An earthquake of great severity was recorded by observatories throughout the United States and Canada in February last. Experts then advanced the opinion that the disturbance was the result of the slipping of. a submarine range of mountains in the Pacific.