THE EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTHERN EUROPE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 787, 1 April 1887, Page 27

THE EARTHQUAKE IN SOUTHERN EUROPE.

(REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.)

, Adelaide, March 28. , The following summary of news has been received per Orient Bteamer Oroya:—London, February 25—The South of Franco was visited by a smart abode of earthquake, lasting for one minute, early on the morning of the 22nd inst. An oscillatory motion was felt, followed in some places by two slight shocks, and two hours later a fourth shock was experienced. The shocks were most violent at Nice, where the people were panic stricken, rnnning half dressed through the streets. A large number of the visitors made a rush for the railway station in order to leave the town, but the train service was suspended, pending an examination of the tunnels. One woman died from fright, and several persons were more or less injured by the falling of oeiliugs, and by the collapse of two houses. Tents were erected in. the streets, and strangers quitted the town in all haste. At Paris three deaths were recorded. At Mentone several fatal accidents took place, and the gendarmerie barracks and several other buildirgs collapsed. Business in these towns was entirely suspended.. At Monte Carlo several persons were seriously injured. At Avignon the first shock frightened the inhabitants out of the houses, but no accidents occurred. The earthquake was felt in all parts of Northern and Central Italy. At Turin the shocks were very severe, first being perpendicular then undulatory. Reports have been received of houses being thrown down and numerous accidents having taken place. A general panic still prevails throughout Southern France and Northern Italy. No warning of tne earthquake was given beforehand, but it was noticed, as a curious fact, that horses and other animals were restive and nervous for some time previous to the first shock. Later telegrams give terrible details of destruction and loss of life, over 1500 people being stated to have been killed in the Riviera district. The town of Diano Marino was totally destroyed, as well as several villages, At Bagardo the terrified inhabitants sought refuge in the church, which collapsed, killing 300 persons in its ruins. All information which has been received shows that the catastrophe has caused immense and widespread destruction. Successive reports from the scene of the earthquake in Italy aggravate rather than diminish the disastrous character of the calamity, and it is now calculated that the number of persons killed reaches 2000. Several further slight shocks of earthquakes are reported, causing a renewal of the panic.