CITY DESTROYED

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22247, 17 January 1944, Page 4

CITY DESTROYED

EARTHQUAKE SHOCK ARGENTINIAN DISASTER 200 DEAD AT SAN JUAN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; (Received Jan. 17. 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 16 Many Argentina provinces were rocked by an earthquake last night. First reports from Buenos Aires say the epicentres was the province of San Juan. More than half the houses in some towns of this province were destroyed. The Buenos Aires radio says the casualty list will be heavy. Damage was particularly severe in the captital city of San Juan, which is without light and water. Two hundred dead have been counted so far. The city of San Juan is about 600 miles north-west of Buenos Aires and about 200 miles north-east of Valparaiso. The resident of Argentina, General Ramirez, ordered immediate help to be sent from neighbouring provinces. Early today a train carry-' ing doctors, nurses and medical supplies was on its way to San Juan. At least three other provinces felt the earthquake. Search for Survivors Rescue workers are digging through wreckage in the almost totally destroyed city of San Juan, searching for survivors, says a later message. A fourth earthquake today destroyed more buildings and hampered the rescue work. One survivor said San Juan, which is situated high in the Andes, with a population of 30.000, is 90 per cent destroyed. The only important building spared was the Rawscn Hospital, which, however, has been evacuated because of its shaky condition. Heavy loss of life is feared in ether towns from which reports have not yet been received because communications are down all over San Juan Province. , Mr David Uriburu, chief Federal agent at San Juan, telegraphed the Argentine Government: “Everything you can do to help, everything you can send us, will be too little because nobody knows the magnitude of what has happened.” The earthquake was felt in a broad belt across South America from Buenos Aires to Santiago.