A TIDAL WAVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1922, Page 5

A TIDAL WAVE.

SOUTH AMERICA DISASTER. EARTHQUAKE FOLLOWS. TOWNS WIPED OUT. ■ SHIPPING DESTROYED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 12, 11.5 p.m. Santiago (Chile), Nov. li. A severe earthquake shock cracked houses throughout Chile. A tidal wave north of Valparaiso caused havoc among small shipping and property near the shore, severing cable connections with North America. Received Nov. 13, 12.5 a.m. New York, Nov. 11. The Chilian earthquake and tidal wave disaster is assuming gigantic proportione. The basis of the present though incomplete reports state that the port of Cuquimbo is completely obliterated. Hundreds of persons were drowned and many vessels sunk. Copiapo is laid in ’ruins, and the list of dead and injured is very large. The work of rescue is impeded by debris, which is burying whole families. At Antofagastas the shipping and wharves have been reduced to kindling wood, though no deaths are reported. The waterfront, food and storehouses are wiped out, and the population faces starvation. The Mayor has cabled to the .capital asking for the aid of the Government.

Caldera and Chanaral were also destroyed. * Santiago, which is far inland, felt the shock, and though a few buildings fen there were no injured. Frightened natives from the countryside are flocking into the city. Few places along the north coast escaped, and some were damaged. The earthquake was felt as far oast as Buenos Ayres, where the lights went out and clocks stopped. The tidal wave is sweeping west toward Hawaii, imperilling Pacific ship-ping.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.