EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1933, Page 7

EARTHQUAKE DISASTER

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHAKEN 140 KILLED AND 2000 INJURED ENORMOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. . Received 6.30 p.m. Log Angeles, M&rch 11. EARTH shocks continued over Southern California on Saturday in the wake of a terrifying 1 earthquake which early on Friday night caused the death of at least 140 persons, injuries to possibly 2000, and millions of dollars worth of property damage. There have been 23 distinct shocks, but generally of a diminishing tendency. Most of the deaths and destruction of propel ty. were confined to the initial shock, which was accompanieji by a peculiar roar and which rocked a section of the city at 5.55 p.m« on Friday, shaking buildings and walls down and starting fires.

The area affected is the richest part of Southern California. The epicentre of the disturbance is apparently in the San Pedro Channel, and Longbeach. 25 miles south of Los Angeles, and Compton, between the two cities, are the greatest sufferers. At Compton only one building remained intact. An army of helpers is giving succour to the injured and homeless, and the difficulty of their task is accentuated by pneumonia amongst the homeless caused by exposure to the cold. Such cases are occurring at the rate of five every hour.

Just what the final figures of the dead and injured may be no one can hazard. No cities were actually laid waste, nor was the skyline of Longbeach affected. In Los Angeles no large buildings went down, but here and there throughout the industrial district scenes of damage are evident.

An estimate of the damage is £7,000,000, £5,000,000 of it being at Longbeach; The dead at Longbeach number 74, at Compton 1$ and at Huntingdon Pari? 16.