TERRIBLE ERUPTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11878, 14 January 1914, Page 5

TERRIBLE ERUPTION.

VILLAGE OVERWHELMED/

HUNDREDS OF INHABITANTS PERISH.

A MOUNTAIN IN FLAMES.

Press Association—Electric Telegraph— Copyright (Received at 9 a.m.) TOKIO, Tuesday.

A terrific eruption of the volcano Sakunashima, in tho Gulf of Kagoshima, has occurred.

Several villages have been destroyed, and there have been many casualties. Two squadrons are hastening to rescue the sufferers.

The first eruption of Sakunashima occurred on Saturday morning. .

Enormous blocks of stone were thrown 2000 feet in the air and some were carried twenty miles.

Streams of lava overwhelmed three villageSjkilling many of tho inhabitants. The remainder fled in boats to Kagoshima, but the fire sperad across the bay to the mainland.

Further eruptions carried lava to Ka goshima, which was ignited. The inhabitants fled, but hundreds perished.

Refugees crowded the freight trains leaving for the north, and by evening Kagoshima was deserted. The sole occupant was a plucky telegraph ofiicial, who telegraphed that the whole place was covered in ashes and emoke and earthquakes were increasingly horrible.

Further reports show that Sakunashima is in continuous eruption, and is now enveloped in flames.