Earthquake kills 60 in Yugoslavia

Press, 16 April 1979, Page 6

Earthquake kills 60 in Yugoslavia

NZPA Belgrade; At least 60 persons were! killed when an earthquake) struck Yugoslavia’s Adriatic) coastal region yesterday,) officials said. Army officials handling res-1 cue work said that at least 24) died when the earthquake ra-i vaged the port of Bar, in the) southern constituent repub-j lie of Montenegro, and others) were killed in the towns of) Kotor, Risan. and Ulcinj. The officials said that the) death toll was expected to j rise much higher. Reports of widespread casualties were* still coming in from other! towns and outlying villages. The damage to buildings; and houses in the picturesque! tourist region was described as immense. Seismological experts said that the earthquake was more powerful than the one which devastated the southern* city of Skopje in 1963, killing more than 1000 people. Telephone communications were' cut by the early-morning i quake, and some towms were ; still out of touch, making it) impossible to give an over-all; picture. Rescue teams were trying | to get through to the, stricken towns by road, but' links were cut at many i points by landslides. In some , places sections of main highways collapsed into the sea.i

Two damaged airports close to the stricken area were closed and military helicopters were the only link for aid and supplies., officials said. President Tito, who has; ibeen on holiday in the nearby Igalo spa, quickly) summoned officials to inform , [him about the extent of the’ Idamage and rescue work. I The 50sec quake measured 17.2 on the Richter scale. It also sent tremors Through Belgrade, the capital. Residents rushed into the streets, but there were !no reports of damage. I The hospital in Kotor was iso badlv damaged that some 1 patients’ were sent home, j Requests were made for ! blood donors, medical staff, tents, and medical crews, Radio Belgrade said. The quake also sent faint tremors across most of Austria, waking residents and prompting a flood of telephone inquiries at the Hohe Warte seismological station iin Vienna. ) No damage was reported, I but there were so many telephone calls that Austrian : Radio began broadcasting the i station’s address and apipealed for written inquiries! I only. Tremors were also felt in, northern Greece, but there were no casualties or dam-i age.