Imperial Valley press., 1930-07-24
RELIEF
WORK IS
RUSHED
Million People Are Esti-
m a t ed Homeless In
Stricken Zone.
SHOCKS CONTINUE
Plight Of Peasants Is
Pitiable; Injured Lack
Proper Care.
By THOMAS r. MORGAN
United Press Staff CORRESPONDENT


BENEVENTO, Italy, July "a.
U.P)-The full extent of the terrible
destruction wrought by yesterdays
earthquake in southern Italy began
TO he made clear today.
One million persons were estimat-
ed to be homeless in the stricken
region.
The casualties could not be esti-
mated accurately, but approximate
ly 300 dead We're listed in unof-
ficial counts, while the government
officially estimated LIS dead and
thousands injured.
The terror of the homeless vic
TINS, for whom only rough prelim-
mary reliefs had as vet been or
ganized, was multiplied by the in
termittent shaking of the earth,
making them fear fresh disaster.
Two new shocks were felt in this
region at 9:l5 a. m. and l:15 p. m.
today. They were not severe, but
strong enough to cause already
weakened houses to collapse.
The government was speeding re-
lief by every possible means, but
the torn highways. railroads and
bridges made communication slow.
Medicines, bandages, serums to pre-
vent epidemics, food, clothing and
other supplies were urgently needed.
Hundreds of thousands camped
out in the open, with nothing to
shelter them.
Peasants Suffer
The plight of many of the peas
ants, routed from their homes, was
pitiable; the injured lacked proper
care. and the living mourned dead
relatives and friends.
Troops, Sparsely stationed in the
ruined towns to prevent looting and
further casualties from tottering
walls were scarcely able to keep
frantic men and women from comb
ing the ruins of their homes for
lost possessions, or for the bodies
of their lost relatives.
Announcement that the king
would leave his summer palace in
the Piedmont this evening and come
TO console the sufferers by his pres
cnce was received with relief by
authorities, who felt assured that
the kings visit would do much TO
calm the terrified populace.
The pope will also send personal
representatives.
The reports that came in slowly
during the day from isolated cen
terS. and the stories of refugees
from stricken towns, increased rath-
cr than minimized the extent of the
disaster, and indicated that the cas-
ualty lists would grow rather than
decrease.
Refugees from Ariano reported
that town of 5000 in ruins and that
the few houses remaining would
have to be torn down. The dead
there were estimated at $40. The
cemetery was filled iwth new dead
this morning from the entire region.
Refugees reported deep fissurcs
opened in the earth along the Ofan-
to river
Refugees from Melfi. where the
dead so far were listed at 200, said
one fourth of the town was des-
troved. Thousands of survivors
were living in the open.
in addition to Ariano, the towns
of Villanova and Monteealvo can
be considered completely destroyed.
Zungoli and SansosSio were evaeuat-
ed. the inhabitants living in the
fields. The medieval castle at
Zungoli. which is near Villanova,
was DESTROYED
Many ccnters were evacuated. 10
is almost impossible to emphasize
the terror Of the inhabitants, and
they have fled to the fields in
blind fright, where they must be
rounded up and cared for by relief
workers.