DEATH AND HAVOC
STRICKEN SPANISH TOWN RAZED BY EXPLOSION LARGE NUMBER OF VICTIMS FIRES ADD TO HORROR (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, July 10. The British United Press correspondent in Penaranda de Bracamonte says that as the result of the explosion in the powder magazine the town is a desolated smoking ruin with a stream of corpses and debris 100 yards around. There are 150 dead and 1300 injured. Those made homeless rushed to Salamanca, where temporary hospitals were installed. General Franco sent £SOOO for relief of distress. The majority of the citizens were cooking their Sunday dinners when the explosion occurred, hence the numerous fires. With a roar like an earthquake ceilings of houses collapsed amid the cries of the dying. Flour mills and shoe factories, which formed the main industries, are still burning. Human and animal bodies are scattered amid household goods, utensils, and bedding. Only 20 to 30 dwellings are standing of the town which housed 5000 people. Lorry loads of fugitives clutching odds and ends of furniture, weeping hopelessly, followed each other to Salamanca.
The heat could be felt miles away. The stench is ghastly. Many rescuers were severely burned.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 11
Word Count
196DEATH AND HAVOC Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 11
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