SCENES OF CHAOS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1922, Page 5

SCENES OF CHAOS.

, MORE QUAKES FOLLOW. TOWNS OBLITERATED. EXTENSIVE LOOTING. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 13, 5.5 p.m. Beunos Ayres, Nov. 12. A series of new earthquakes, vast seas and electrical storms, have greatly hindered rescue work being done in Northern Chili, and have added to the list of casualties and property damaged. Communication with the stricken area is still impossible. All news is coming via Valparaiso, which itself is slightly damaged by earthquakes. Coquimbo and Copiapo, which are completely obliterated, are now the scene of inhuman looting. The dead and injured are being robbed and the rescuers are hampered by groups of armed men who are taking valuables at will.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association. A THOUSAND DEAD. LARGE NUMBERS HOMELESS. EXPLANATION OF DISASTER. Received Nov. 13, 8.50 p.m. Santiago, Nov. 13. The disaster in Chile is even greater than was at first reported. At least a thousand are dead, though it is expected there are many more. The city of Vallenar and the surrounding district are completely destroyed. Thousands are homeless in the provinces of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo. The Meteorological Institute, explaining the cosmographic character of the upheaval. declared the movement was on the ocean grave. There is evidence of a terrific disturbance in the bed of the' Pacific, resulting in such tearing of the bottom of the ocean that immense quantities of water were sucked back, causing an unprecedented recession along the Chilean coast. Several times the water was swept outward, returning in the shape of a great wave, destroying everything before it. The institute declares the earth shock coincided with a sunspot over the central meridian of' the s in, beginning on November 5. The shock began at the end of an abnormally hot day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EFFECT OF TIDAL WAVE. SAFETY OF NEW ZEALAND By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington. November 13. Tn reference to the Chilean tidal wave cabled this morning. Mr. Williams, Government tidal expert, states there is no cause for alarm in New Zealand, as the influence of the wave will ibe dissipated over miles of ocean 'before it reaches our coasts. Beyond producing what will appear like a high tide, it can have little effect on Dominion waters.