The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-15 00:00:00

THE EARTHQUAKE AT SANTA IIfAURA.

CORFU, JAN.
The same terrible calamity, which at the end of 11120 agited
the city of Zante, has fallen with still greater fury on the untortu.
nate city of Santa Miura. O.i the 11th of this month, one of the
most violent shocks of an earthquake ever felt in that island
plunged the unfortunate inhabitants into the utmost distress. We
are not yet acquaintsi with ill the particulars, and the terrible
effects of that disastrous ecnt, but from the authentic reports
which have reached us up to the 20th of this month, we cannot,
without the most profound sorrow, announce to the public so tre-
mendous a calamity. The whole city presents to the view only a
vast scene of desolation and ruins .; all the houses are either entirely
overthrown or extremely damaged. All the churches, except one, are
destroyed ; and we may say, without exaggeration. that the city of
Santa Mann is uninhabitable. This disaster hiving occurred in
the midst of winter, and In extremely stormy weather, the conse-
quences are on that account still more fatal. The mills and ovens
being all destroyed, and the unhappy people having no she!.
ter from the inclemency of the season, it is easy to conceive the
difficulty of procuring bread, and the scene of horror which deso-
lated the town, with the lamentation, and cries of despair of the
families, who saw the streets inundated with wine end, oil by the
destruction of their magazines, and all their provisions spoiled.
Thousands of persons are reduced to beggary. The numbrr of
persons who perished, up to the 2lst was twenty-four in the city,
besides thirteen who had received bodily injuries ; twenty:three
others are buried under the ruins of the village of Zuccalades.
The earthquake happily spent its whole fury during the day. so
that the inhabitants both in the city and the country did not suffer
in their persons what they would have suffered had it happened in
the night. It is worthy of particular notice, that in some parts of
the interior of the island the shock was not at all felt. It seems
that its whole force was spent in the parts nearest the sea. The
Fortress and the Custom-house hul not suffered much damage.
We know, also, that the city of Prevesa has suffered greatly, but
we have not yet received the particulars. The earthquake was also
felt here, in Corfu, on the same day, and at nearly the same hour.
No sooner had the official notice of this calamity reached this
city, than the Government, deeply moved by the distresl of those
islanders, hastened to take measures to afford them prompt relief.
It sent without delay, and notwithstanding the unfavourable wen.
ther, his filajesty's frigate Naiad, with provisions of all kinds, tim-
ber foe banding, erorktnen, knd niceness of every description,
which the unfortunate situation of the inhabitants of Santa Maura
required. The Government has displayed on this occasion the
greatest activity and energy ; and, thanks to its paternal care, the
lot of those unhappy people is rendered less distressing. We hope
that the inhabitants of this and the other sister islands, moved by
so fatal an event, and by the melancholy situation of those who
have been its victims, will generously contribute to their relief.