ETNA ERUPTION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1928, Page 5

ETNA ERUPTION

GRAPHIC ACCOUNT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). > LONDON, Nov. 12. A graphic picture of Mount Etna’s i desolation is specially cabled to the “Evening Standard” from Sicily. The disaster has rendered five thousand families homeless. It has wiped out three towns, 760 houses, twenty-seven hundred acres, and seven years wine crops are withered. One of the world’s richest lemon tree valleys is buried. Bridges, railways, and roads overwhelmed. The eruption continues unabated, and great clouds of smoke and fire are coming from a new crater far from the summit. The correspondent followed the lava stream six miles, starting a few hundred yards from the crater where there was intense heat, which brought him to a standstill. He says: “A smoke pall a mile high hangs over the crater. Now and again a gigantic wall of fire sweeps skywards. The air is thick with small pellets and hot rocks and the rod wave spills over the edge, and forces its way downward. Each gust adds thousands of tons to the streams, which means it progresses at least five yards further. After a five hour’s walk to Mascali he found there is a solid wall one hundred feet high, vertically, across the one time town square. Only seven houses are left; meanwhile the stream is flowing on eastward of Mascali. The roar and smoke is unceasing as the trees and isolated houses are devoured. Carraba is yet untouched. although its doom is sealed as the lava is to-day on the outskirts, but it is with the utmost difficulty that the peasants can he induced to leave. Evacuation is a more pathetic sight than the desolation. It is impossible to forecast a cessation. Last night the crater was quieter, but to-day it is more actne. The township of G-iam* must be saved at all costs. Happily their danger is not immediate. The stream "ill probably reach the sea and form a new headland, just as the neighbouring headland was formed four thousand rears ago.” ROME, Nov. 13. Indications are that Mount Etna’s worst is over and it is considered the final phase has been entered.

A NARROW ESCAPE. ROAIE, Nov. 13. Professor Ponte had a thrilling flight over the crater. He narrowly escaped disaster, owing to the heat from the red Shot lava. The aeroplane slipped into an air pocket, and lurched and fell until it was only seven tv feet from the inferno. The aviator. Lieut. Znnelli, just managed to right the machine and fly clear. As a result of Professor Ponte’s investigation, the experts are of the opinion the main conduit of the crater (is blocked, hence the eruptive violence by which the lava forced its wav through the fissures and increased the thickness of the lava. The streams however are now impeding the progress of the flow. Thus f ;u > the lava emitted totals four hundred million cubic metres. Professor Zungali, secretary of the Fascist organisation, officially reports the damage at one million and threequarters sterling.