QUAKE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1931, Page 5

QUAKE DISASTER

IN BALUCHISTAN. COUNTRYSIDE CHANGED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyri ght..i (Received this day at ’.O a.m.) CALCUITA, Augusu oi. A Baluchistan message states u.'.e earthquake wrought appalling havoc and completely changed the face of the countryside. A vast area of whole hillsides came crashing into the valleys. Towns and villages were razed. There were over two hundred shocks in two days. The death roll at present is unknown but is believed to be very heavy. Hundreds of injured are without food, water or medical aid. Many thousand people fled panic stricken from the towns, ten thousand (leaving Quetta in a few hours after the first shock. An alarming incident was the collapse of the gaol freeing 475 prisoners, mostly frontier tribesmen of the wildest characterA young Moslem Government officer gallantly rode through the darkness to Quetta for military aid, over the quaking roads, and with hillsides 'crashing down. Troops were despatched from Quetta and found the prisoners cowering in the ruins, too terror stricken to escape.