Bad Earthquake Rocks The Philippines

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 January 1948, Page 5

Bad Earthquake Rocks The Philippines

SOME LOSS OF LIFE (N.Z.P.A.— Copyright.) Recd. 7.30 p.m. Manila, Jan. 25 At least 14 persons are reported killed in a series of earth- 1 quakes which rocked Panay I Island early this morning. Iloilo, the capital, 285 miles southwest of Manila ,and Jaro, the second city, were the hardest hit. Cracks from 160 to 210 feet long were opened in the heaving earth. Fragmentary radio messages received from Manila reported that 12 were killed when the bell-tower of Jaro Cathedral toppled on them. The tower is six storeys high and has stood in front of the centuries old cathedral built in the time of the Spaniards. Two members a tug's crew were killed at Iloilo when a wall fell or. them. A series of eight earthquakes rocked Iloilo for four hours, shattering walls and flattening warehouse.; Adjoining islands, Cebu and Marin duque, also reported earthquakes, bui they were milder and apparently

caused no damage. Iloilo, which is on a low sandy flat at the mouth of the river of the same name, is the port of entry for considerable foreign commerce, particularly in sugar and copra It was captured by the Japanese in April, 1942, and the battle inflicted damage estimated at 5,500,000 dollars. A message from Mexico City reports that the city was shaken by an earthquake at 6 8 p.m. New York time, yesterday. Buildings in downtown Mexico City swayed for nearly 30 seconds, but the ’quake was not strong enough to cause damage or casualties.