TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKES.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 21 August 1906, Page 3

TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKES.

Reports are to hand from Chili, .one of the South American States, of an earthpuake disaster exceeding that which recently took place in San Francisco, the awfulness of which calamity is still fresh in the memory of the residents of New Zealand. Valpariso, a magnificent port of Chili, and second only in importance to that of San Fsancisco on that coast, and containing a population of over 90,00 Q seems to have been the cheif scene of the disturbance, and the extent of the damage cannot be estimated at the moment, while thousands of lives have been loss.

On Thursday morning last at 8 the first shock was experienced, when the buildings began to sway backwards snd forwards, and suddenly gave a tremendous jolt, toppling the buildings over in all directions, and burying thousands of people in the debris. Like as in San Francisco, fire complete the destruction of the place. Shipping was unaffected by the disturbance.

Some terrible scenes were enacted during the continuance of the shocks, the inhabitants being panic-striken with fear. It is also stated that the weather is cold and bleak and that the food supply is short, intensifying the disaster. Stantigo, the capital of Chili, a modem city with electric trams and moderd lighting appliances, containing a population of oyer 400,000, situated only a few miles from Valpariso, experienced very heavy shocks, and it is estimated that property has been destroyed to the value of £400,000. Thirty lives were lost. Several fires were got under control by the firemen. The disturbance has been felt beyond the bounds of Chili, and the seat of the eruption is supposed to be a volcano in the Andes, which spread over a zone of nearly two degrees.