Evening star., 1938-01-30
ARMSBLASTSK|LL
.15,HURT HUNDREDS
More Believed Buried In
Ruins of Italian Plant
at Segni.
By the Associated Press.


sEGN1. Italy, Jan. 29.-The vorst
munitions factory explosion in 1taly's
recent history today killed at least
IS workers and injured hundreds Of
others. leaving Segni's business sec.
ton devastated as by an earthquake.
Nine died in the explosion and six died
in hospitals later.
Firemen toiling to extinguish fierce
flames IN the powder plant ruins were
certain they would fine additional
bodies when the heat and acrid fumes
were quelled enough to permit thor.
ough search.
Soldiers. police and firefighters were
the only occupants of the shattered
area in this town Of 10000 irhabi.
tants, SO miles southeast of Rome.
Residents were forced to evacuate
their homes. many Of them damaged
beyond repair.
First Blast Spread Panic.
The first Of three explosions came
at 7:35 am, spreading panic.> Liy-
ing amid powder and ammunition
plants. the towns inhabitants knew
what the deep subterranean rumble
portended. Many Of them, fearful tor
relatives working in the factory.
dashed into streets already Uttered
with broken glass and roof tiles.
A second explosion IS minutes later
was followed by a terrific blast at
8:03 which destroyed, the munitions
plant. Residence roofs crashed in.
Juring householders indoors. Outside
stairways collapsed and doors splin-
tered from their hinges. All clocks
IN Segni were stopped. The WINDOWS
were blown from a roadside chapel
two-thirds Of mile away.
The explosions ceased after ,ha
third one, but flames spread under.
ground where tons Of wool used In
making high explosives was stored.
Authorities feared further blasts and
kept all but rescue workers a mile
from the smoking debris Police lines
held back. wives and mothers search.
ing for missing relatives. One hys-
terlcal girl broke through, but was led
back by guards.
Mussolini Hurries to Scene.
Premier Mussolini, who had been
attending the wedding of his niece
IN Rome, arrived to survey the wreck
age, but accepted the advice of guards
not to go beyond point of safety,
All roads into Segni were closed to
ordinary trafnc to make way for fire.
flghting apparatus. ambulances, truck
loads OF troops. physicians and trucks
carrying medical supplies.
The Bomberino Partodi Delfno fac
tory had been built within the last
six years to speed Italy's vast arma-
ment program. The powder plant,
situated IN valley almost surrounded
by hills. was built almost entirely
underground
Several other buildings In which
fertilizers and chemical products were
manufactured stood within q mile
radius Of the explosions. All were
damaged so extensively that work was
halted.
Rescuers said about 30 persons nor
AAAy "SAS SAApkVyS0 AL t4tC HOWOSIs
works, but that probably more than
40 were present. since the day and
night shifts were just changing. AbouE
$4,000 persons are employed In plants
Of the vicinity.
Hospitals damned.
Hospitals In surrounding towns and
Rome were jammed with first aid
cases. Glasses at the University Of
Rome's medical school were suspended
when physicians and surgeons were
modified. Tank trucks Of water were
dispatched from the capital to aug
ment the small city's dwindling supply,
The plants superintendent told
Mussolini the casualties would have
been much greater if he had not
ordered evacuation Of the plants i'm
mediately after the first detonation.
The number Of injured was set
at 200 by Red Cross figures, but many
others were known to have been hurt
though they did not require hospital
attention
An official eommunique blamed the
disaster on the carelessness Of q
worker who broke . compressed air
tube.