EARTHQUAKE DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20819, 11 March 1931, Page 11

EARTHQUAKE DISASTER.

SOUTHERN YUGOSLAVIA,

TERRIFIED INHABITANTS.

APPALLING EXPERIENCES. By Telegraph—Pres'i Association—Copyright. BELGRADE. March 9. The disastrous earthquake in Southern Yugoslavia on Saturday was accompanied by crashing lands ides, huge boiling geysers spouting toward the sky, and ominous rumblings ov?r the entire length of the rock-bound Struma Valley. The mineral springs at Strumnitza vanished in a few m nutes, and similar ones appeared at Valandovo, 10 miles away, where the scalding mineralised waters gushed forth from great cracks in the earth.

Many of the inhabitants of Strumnitza were concluding Saturday evening festivities in cafes when the lights failed, the buildings rocked and ceilings fell. Panicstricken guests rushed through the darkness out into th'j pouring rain and lay huddled in fields devoid of shelter, until dawn.

It is known, ir spite of the interrupted communications, that Strumnitza was almost destroyed. Travellers report the demolition of the army barracks at Berov. extensive damage to peasants' dwellings and widespread destruction in Bulgarian and Greek territory. The total deith-roll cannot be ascertained owing to the damaged communications, but unofficially it is given as 150. Five hundred people arc believed to have been injured.

King Alexander and the Prime Minister are personally supervising the relief measures.

Intense cold and hunger are increasing the privations o: the afflicted people. A communique stales that all expenditure will be met out of State funds, and that no subscriptions are sought cither in Yugoslavia or abroad.