TOWN ALMOST WIPED OUT

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1930, Page 9

TOWN ALMOST WIPED OUT

BURMA QUAKE DISASTER

POSSIBLY THOUSAND DEAD

MANY BUILDINGS COLLAPSE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Delhi, May 7.

Survivors of the Pegu earthquake disaster arriving at Rangoon state that the town was almost wiped out. There are from GOO to 1600 dead, and 30,000 are homeless. Several houses with their inhabiants completely disappeared into huge fissures in the ground, and all the shops were wrecked. The post office and the railway station were severely damaged. Tho destruction of bridges and the permanent way caused a dislocation of services.

When the gaol collapsed many prisoners escaped, and troops and police were sent from Rangoon to round them up and prevent looting. Injured and killed are still being extricated from the ruins and taken to hospital, where many deaths from injuries are reported hourly. The town of Kayan also suffered severely from the earthquake. Many were buried alive by the collapse of a mosque and courthouses. AU tho bazaar buildings were wrecked and the death roll is estimated at 50.

It is reported that the jsland of Tjongwa, in the Hanthawaddy district, completely disappeared. Tho casualties are unknown.