CHILEAN DISASTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1939, Page 5

CHILEAN DISASTER

I EFFECTS OF DESTRUCTIVE j EARTHQUAKE SIX PROVINCES SUFFER STUPENDOUS PROBLEM OF RELIEF. i I GOVERNMENT’S EMERGENCY I EFFORTS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK. January 25. With details of the terrific earthquake which shook Chile yesterday coming in very slowly, because of the interruption of communication and the censorship imposed by the Government which desires to prevent exaggerations. it is nevertheless indicated that the country has been overtaken by a disaster of the first magnitude. Six provinces, Talca, Maule, Nuble, t-oncepcion, Biobi and Cautin, with a total population of 1.600,000. were involved.

About half of the 40,000 inhabitants of the city of Chilian, where a death roll of at least 10,000 has been reported, are believed to be casualties, and the injured are piled in the streets. The entire city is wrecked. A state of siege was declared in the Talcahuano area, 250 miles south of Santiago, when it was learned that 14 persons were known to be dead and 67 injured. A quarter of the city was destroyed. The vast death-roll at Chilian seems to be the only one thus far confirmed. It is known, however, that 60 persons are dead in Concepcion, though the injured may be numerous and debris may cover an undetermined number of further dead. The complete physical destruction of Concepcion is, however, known. Los Anjeles, 62 miles from Concepcion, is also believed to have been wiped out, and it is expected that other large towns have been razed as ■ well as hundreds of smaller places in ' the rich agricultural and coal-mining region, which is all but demolished. 1 BUILDINGS SHAKEN DOWN. £

The Chilean Government, which is almost completely dependent on aeroplanes for immediate penetration of the affected areas, was tonight valiantly struggling with the stupendous problem of rescue, relief, prevention of looting, and the general preservation of order, which for the most part is entrusted to the military. The recently-created Socialist militia in this Popular Front-controlled nation nas been summoned to the task.

The Chilian correspondent of the United Press, who flew to the city, proceeded for the last few miles on roads rizragged with eight-inch cracks. The city is almost totally demolished, and the dead and injured are all covered with thick, yellow adobe dust. The enormous death-roll seemed to have stunned the survivors. Two of cmllan’s theatres collapsed, each apparently trapping 200 persops. The massive brick cathedral crumbled. Two doctors worked alone in the hospital. which is still standing, performing 40 operations without anaesthetic. They begged the correspondent to ask the Santiago authorities to rush gauze, ether and other medical necessities. En route to Chilian the correspondent saw the ruins of Mirafloress, Longavi. Parral, San Carlos and Concepcion.

WIRELESS AMATEURS TO HELP. Tne Government has ordered all wireless amateurs to co-operate in setting up an emergency communication network throughout southern Chile. Officials expressed nie opinion that it wduld be days before the full extent of the disaster was known. It is feared that the greatest loss of life would be in small communities far from the centres of communication. The first Government motor rescue expedition left Santiago at five minutes past midnight. The Minister of the Interior took over the direction of army, navy and police units tnroughout the area, and local authorities were placed under Government orders.

Thousands of men, women and children are reported to be camping in parks in the suburbs of the wrecked cnies. Many are homeless and others are afraid to return home since the slightest shock might cause the already weakened walls to crumble.

A very clear record of the earthquake was obtained at the Dominion Observatory, Kelburn, the tracing lasting for fully three hours. ' No very pronounced after-shocks were recorded after the initial shake. THOUSANDS DEAD AMD GREAT NUMBERS MISSING. BRITISH WARSHIPS OFFER HELP. NEW YORK, January 26. It is now indicated that the first report than 2000 persons are dead in Concepcion, as a result of Chile's disastrous earthquake, is likely to be accurate. A thousand more are seriously injured and many thousands are missing from the stricken regions, but it is hoped that these may be safe in the hills where they fled fearful of new shocks.

The British cruisers, Exeter and Ajax, on a courtesy visit to Valparaiso, volunteered to transport supplies, but the Government replied, “Thanks, everything is under control.” Foreign steamship lines operating in Chilean waters also offered their vessels, and airlines offered their machines, to aid the Government.

The vastness of the task of restoration is seen in the fact that legislative leaders are preparing the speedy enactment of a forced loan of 500,000,000 pesos for reconstruction purposes. Public collections and funds for the victims are expected to reach many millions more.

Reconstruction is expected to prove specially difficult for the new Popular Front Government, whose recent election has been otherwise beclouded by many difficult issues and obstructions from Conservative elements.