DEVASTATION AND DISTRESS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 56, 4 May 1928, Page 5

DEVASTATION AND DISTRESS

TOLL OF EARTHQUAKES.

BULGARIA'S CALMITY

LONDON, May 2

The Daily Express special correspondent, who is the first British correspondent to arrive at Sofia, states that terrible devastation and distress still reigns at Philippopolis and other centres. He) describes « a«, .easily the worst calamity that has befallen the country.

In all, 400,000 people arc homeless, sheltering in gairdcns in the centre of the city, and in the open fields on the outskirts, and sleeping in goods trucks. Seven children were born in the fielcfs last night. Earth tremors continued up to tonight. '(The Prime Minister. M. Lapchctfi, was overjoyed to see the British, correspondent in order that the worid <shouJd Vncr.v for tiirsb time the real magnitude of the national tragedy. The correspondent describes tho motor journey of 200 miles through central and south-eastern Bulgaria. Everywhere there is. tlie samej story of prosperous villages now an unrecognisable mass of ruins, Injured people . are| still suffering incredible agonies. Roadways are impassable for many miles owing to the floods. Great lakes suddenly formed, swamping the ruins. Most tragic of all is the state of' Philippopollis. Bnjt'ire streets have been wined out. Over 4500 buildings have been demolished. Eight thousand houscte are partly demolished and three thousand are uninhabitable'. Others are erect though split? in twain. Elsewhere. whole sides have been furiously lifted away. Nofl an hour of the day passe s without fresh strutures collapsing with a roar.

Rain is still falling. All civil functionaries Ijave established offices under canvas. The supreme criminal courts arej working in tents, and hospitals have been established in tents. Dressing staiticms and dispensaries flying Red Gross flags have been established at eveiry street corner. There is a grave scarcity of doctors and nurses, which adds to the horror.

Although neighbouring countries promised rushed supplies, they are late in arriving. Bulgaria calls to the world for aid.

A tetrrilfte (and! tcfcirentiiali downpom- of rain has wept Northern Bulgaria. Tpief population, unner-i ved by the earthquakes, became panic-stricken.