Mounting Horror of Turkish Catastrophe

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 1, 2 January 1940, Page 7

Mounting Horror of Turkish Catastrophe

Deathroll Reaches Colossal Proportions Further Quakes and Floods Add to Terror United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Monday, 6.30 p.m. ISTANBUL, December 31. The whole of the Turkish nation has been mobilised for the mighty task of Rescuing the survivors of the earthquake As the forces are being marshalled, the country is again trembling under new shocks, which scientists believe may continue for six months. The death roll is mounting hourly as news from the doomed towns filters out. Great chasms have split the snowswept countryside and entire villages Have disappeared. Blizzards and the rising flood-waters joined forces with the subterranean upheavals, making the plight of the refugees terrible beyond endurance. To-day’s shocks in Amasia completely destroyed 25 villages. Only three of the 350 inhabitants of the village of Turkmen survived. Other shocks were felt in Smyrna. The town of Dikili was seriously damaged. All the rivers around are flooded. Trains have reached Erzindjan, where it is now estimated that 30,000 were killed, representing 50 per cent, of the population. Aeroplanes circling over are continually dropping food, charcoal and clothing for the thousands rendered homeless who are seeking refuge in the fields. Thousands who escaped from this city were frozen to death. The temperatures are 30 below zero. Many were clad only in their night attire. Trains, ships and lorries are crawling to the scene. One of three trains which reached Erzindjan departed laden with injured. A steamer laden with food and medicines has left for the Black Sea coast. All hope of rescuing those entombed in the villages and towns has been abandoned and rescue efforts are being concentrated on the survivors scattered throughout an area of 60,000 square miles. Tho complete evacuation of certain districts is likely in order to avoid epidemics. The floods in the Smyrna region inundated the Karacabev valley containing 14 towns and villages. The River Simavcayi overwhelmed Kernel Pasa near Bursa, marooning the inhabitants on the rooftops and drowning many trying to escape. The military authorities and the Red Crescent are sending tents and clothing by boat from Munanya. Three other rivers, including the Karadcrc, burst their banks. Forty-four earthquake shocks were registered in 48 hours in the Sivas district, throwing the people into further panic. The Governor of the town of Kuyuiuhissar reports that 20 per cent, of the population were killed and the remainder "IF, £ pr ’ SOn colla Psed, killing 20 convicts and all the officials. Hundreds of school children perished when a school collapsed. Only three officials survive. Similar scenes occurred in Zaza, Suschri and Ispala where every gendarme perished. An engineer who entered Erzindjan reported that there were frantic appeals for help in the doctorless city, where flames and snow contended for the mastery amid the screams of the victinis. The Governor and Mayor were the only official survivors, but the ordeal drove the Mayor mad. Including the injured and homeless with the dead, the casualty list in the earthquake visitation exceeds hundreds of thousands. The region affected extends from Ankara to Erzindjan and from Samsoun to. Kayseri. The most modern buildings of reinforced concrete collapsed. The Shah of Iran has telegraphed his sympathy to President lnonu, while the Governor has cabled £625 to the Rod Crescent r TFf British Government has sent £25,000 and Franco 5,000,000 francs to the relief fund.