MASCALI OBLITERATED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 506, 8 November 1928, Page 1

MASCALI OBLITERATED

Other Centres Threatened

INHABITANTS’ PITIFUL PRAYERS

Flames Light Scene of Desolation

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright > (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Received 12.15 p.m. ROME, Wednesday. THE chief lava stream from Mount Etna has now engulfed * the town of Mascali. The position of the inhabitants is tragic. They were to have held a procession celebrating’ the feast day of their patron saint, but the disaster transformed merriment into mourning and grief. The lava at first respected the facade and belfry of the church, which stood erect amid the smoke and ashes and fire, but at 3 o’clock this afternoon they toppled over. Mascali is thus virtually obliterated, together with the neighbouring town of Annunziata.

Seismological experts state that the eruption is unprecedented both in violence and the quantity of lava erupted, the latter amounting to thousands of tons. Unfortunately they believe that the flow will continue for some time. The faithful were confident in the Almighty, and transferred the images of saints and madonnas to . an impromptu open-air altar, around which kneeling priests and people sang Litanies and offered prayers to heaven. There is a faint hope that the lower I part of Mascali would be spared owing I to the deflection of lava by the bed of j the Serrabuano torrent, down which '■ it flowed toward the sea instead of j spreading over the plain. The lava stream at its widest is over j 2,000 feet and is now- 10 miles from where it first erupted from the crater. Overcoming the first paralytic shock the inhabitants awakened to the need of saving their possessions. Their struggles to carry to safety their furniture and everything movable were most pitiful. A multitude of peasants from the smaller villages and mountain flanks | were grouped at Mascali with their j bags and bundles. waiting to leave : should it be necessary. The neighbourhood of the town Is crowded with lorries and motor-cars from all over Sicily, helping to remove the inhabitants, while Isolated groups are still descending the mountain. The lava destroyed an aqueduct, depriving the township of Riposo of Its drinking water. There is a grave danger of the mass of lava invading the flat lands adjacent to the sea. The situation was even more intolerable to-night, owing to the electric plants ceasing. Evacuation of the towns was carried on by torchlight, and made a fantastic scene. The large town of Giarre, with over | 20,000 people, is now seriously threat- ■ ened. Should the lava reach it. it ! will mean a serious disaster, in view of its commerce and flourishing industries. Further danger lies in the fact, that the lava is only half a mile from the railway, threatening to isolate the rescue centre of Catania from the remainder of the island and the mainland. A gigantic smoke-pillar from Etna

iis visible for miles. The sky is obscured by dark clouds, through which vivid flames flashed from the different craters. The lava flow can he fol lowed by the trail of smoke from the burning woods and orchards. To the calmness of the inhabitants, and the splendid organisation of the authorities is due the fact that there has not been a single death in the whole area, though the damage to property is inestimable. The eruption of Mount Etna is I causing alarming and terrifying explosions and subterranean rumblings. Showers of ashes, cinders and > j stones made Incandescent by the heat ! continue to be emitted from the crater. They are accompanied by ! vari-coloured flames which suggest a gigantic fireworks display. One enormous explosion in the afternoon shook the whole region. Hundreds of small craters of varying activity have broken out on the mountain. Professor Prolti, director of the Etna observatory, explains that these new craters are due to lava which has travelled several miles from the main craters seeking outlets. The molten lava has destroyed all communications and bridges, including a 90ft iron rail-bridge, which has ! been contorted as if it were made of straw. Another lava stream is advancing at a rate of several hundred feet an hour. This Is threatening the town of Giarre. which, with Its neighbouring villages, has been evacuated. Processions of inhabitants <ff the region carrying relics of St. Vitus and images of St. Leonard, alternately march and face the lava and pray for Divine intervention. These processions are now retreating as the redhot stream approaches. The Pope is most anxious about the situation. He has sent a message to the sufferers saying he is praying for a cessation of the lava flow. When the stream approached Mascali the housese on the outskirts collapsed one after the other with loud reports. They practically melted. The sound of ihe advancing lava was like that of countless sacks of coal being heavily dumped. Scientists believe that the present disaster is a most realistic reproduction of the destruction of Herculaneum by Vesuvius.