BIG EARTHQUAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21201, 6 June 1932, Page 9

BIG EARTHQUAKE.

MEXICO SHAKEN.

HEAVY CASUALTY LIST. DESTRUCTION OF TOWNS. MANY PEOPLE HOMELESS. WTI)E AREA AFFECTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received June 5, 5.5 p.m.) MEXICO CITY. Juno t. More than 400 people are reported to have been killed or injured as the result of a severe earthquake in Mexico yesterday.

Reports trickling into Mexico City over damaged lines of communication state that at least 300 were killed or injured in tho area around Guadalajara, where the death-roll is still mounting. About 1000 people are homeless. Fearing a recurrence of the shocks, the officials forbade indoor meetings, and closed schools, saloons, churches and theatres. Seventeen bodies wero recovered. In the State of Colima 20 towns were destroyed or damaged. The collapse of a barracks killed four soldiers at Zamora, Michoacan, 200 miles north-west of the capital.

The municipal buildings wero wrecked at Ucbitlan and several peoplo wero killed. Hundreds of houses wero destroyed at Masoota and there wero several deaths.

Ruins were dynamited in some cases to prevent further loss of 3ifo by the fall of (ottering walls. Mexico City suffered considerable damago. Several small buildings toppled over.

Guadalajara, where many casualties are reported to have resulted from the earthquake, is tho capital of the State of that name. It stands at an altitude of 5200 ft. 381 miles north-west of Mexico City, and has a population of more than 150,000. Ono of tho finest towns in Mexico, it ranks next in importance to the capital. The city is a rich agricultural and manufacturing centro.. The State of Colima, where 20 towns are said to have been destroyed, is in the valley of tho Colima River. The capital, named the samo as the State, has a population of 30,000. From tho city can bo seen the Colima volcano (12,278 ft.) and the El Nevado