CITY IN RUINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 9

CITY IN RUINS

GREAT EARTHQUAKE ERUPTION OF VOLCANO DISASTER IN SALVADOI) HEAVY CASUALTY LIST By Telecrraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 21, 5.10 p.m.) SAN SALVADOR, Dec. 20 San Vincente, a city of 25,000 inhabitautd in the lake region of the Republic of Salvador, 25 miles east from here, was virtually destroyed by the combined effects of an earthquake and an eruption of the volcano San Vincente. Seven villages near by were also destroyed. The first reports were that 200 people are dead and 400 injured in San Vincente alone. Ped Cross and volunteer workers are busy digging the dead from the ruined homes and sending the injured to Ran Salvador. The earthquake occurred while a night procession was being held in honour of San Vinccnte's patron saint, of the same name. There was wild confusion. The electric lights went out, a stream of lava descended from the mountain, and a cloud of dust covered the city, while houses crumbled. Many terrified survivors are fleeing from the district in fear of a secoijd eruption, which is presaged by the continued activity of the volcano. The estimate of the injured was raised to 800 on the return of the President, General Martinez, from a tour of inspection in the stricken area. Efforts to evacuate the population are being rushed owing to sulphur having contaminated all the water supplies in San Vincente, and suffering being increased by intense cold and a high wind. All the available trains and motor-cars are being used to carry the injured to hospitals, which are already crowded.

Salvador is the smallest but most densely populated of the Central American republics. It is bounded on the north and east by Honduras, on the south by the Pacific Ocean, and on the west by Guatemala. The population is about 1.500,000. Along the sea coast, which is about 160 miles in length, is a narrow, low alluvial plain, and the interior is a plateau about 2000 feet above sea level containing a number of volcanic cones, the highest of which rises to 8300 feet. Earthquakes are frequent, particularly in the neighbourhood of the capital city, San Salvador, much of which was destroyed, along with three other towns, by an earthquake in June, 1917; and even greater damage was done to the capital on April 28, 1919. San Miguel, one of the volcanoes near by, is described as one of the most treacherous in America, sometimes being for several years in complete repose and then suddenly bursting out with terrific ftirv.