’QUAKE KILLS 2,000

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 969, 12 May 1930, Page 9

’QUAKE KILLS 2,000

WIDESPREAD DISASTER IN PERSIA HOMES WRECKED BY TREMORS United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright TEHERAN, Saturday. Numerous casualties and widespread damage were caused by an earthquake in the Azerbaijan district, in the extreme north-west of Persia. The most severe shocks occurred at Salmas, which was almost entirely destroyed, the new quarter of the town suffering extensively. It is reported that 2,000 people wera killed and 500 injured in the district. Many tremors were felt at Tabriz, further to the south. They culminated yesterday in a terrible earthquake which lasted one and a-half minutes. The panic-stricken population fled and took refuge in the hills to the south, where they are camping. The town is now deserted. The Shah has given £2,000 toward a relief fund. Azerbaijan includes part of Armenia and is inhabited by Persians. Armenians, Tartar Turks. Kurds. Arabs and others. The surface is mountainous and the fertile valleys are regarded as among the most productive regions in Persia. Tabriz is the most important city in North-West Persia, and capital of the province of Azerbaijan. It was in great part destroyed by an earthquake in 1721 (when so.ooo people were said to have perished), and again in 17S0. Salmas is situated on a plain on the nortli-westorn side of Lake L'rumia.