Evening star., 1939-01-26
Chilean Quake
Death Total
May Hit $4,000
Conception so Pct.,
ChilIon Totally
Destroyed
BY the Associated Press.

=
SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. 26.-First
government reports today gave more
than 1000 dead and the total may
go above 10000 in the earthquake
that spread ruin and terror through
Central Chile Tuesday night.
The government communique was
the first official tabulation of the
death and damage and it was far
from complete. Estimates of 10000
dead came from aviators who flew
over the regions hardest hit, $50
miles south of Santiago in the heart
of the agriculture belt, from refu-
gees who came out by air and from
amateur radio operators.
The communique confirmed that
the ancient city of Chillan, associ-
ated with early Chilean history, was
destroyed. More than 300 we're
killed in a theater collapse and the
total dead there was put at between
5000 and 1000. The population is
10000.
Sixty per cent" of Conception
known to tourists as the city of the
perfumed plaze because of its beau
tiful linden trees-Was destroyed.
The communique gave no estimate
Of dead among the population of
1900, but aviators and a manufac-
turer who flew out agreed that 1000
was likely figure.
Talca Damage Enormous.
Talca, with a population of IS 900
and known as one of the proudest
cities in South America, suffered
heavy damage, but only five dead
were listed there.
From more than a score of towns
came reports of dead, of homes and
jails that collapsed, of fire, of lack
of water and light, and of food
shortage.
The quake was felt through a
450-mile strip from Valparaiso,
north of Santiago, south along the
coast. The Conception -Talco-Chil-
Ian region, $50 miles south, was the
most seriously affected.
Many of the houses in the region
are of ancient brick, some walls 6
feet thick, with heavy tile roofing.
Only in recent years have the larger
cities required notwithstanding
construction of steel.
The government announcement
related that hospital collapsed at
Cauquennes, town of $500, noted for
its mineral springs, killing 20. Sew
enty died when the Jail fell.
San Carlos suffered heavy damage
and Longavi was nearly demolished,
| but from these and other towns
death tabulations were lacking.
Radio Stations Taken Over.
To speed rescue operations, the
government ordered the military to
take over radio stations. Special
trains, destroyers, planes. trucks and
merchant vessels sped to the stricken
region with doctors, nurses, food and
medicine.
A physician who flew over Chillan
reported only five houses were left
standing in the IA blocks compris-
ing the main section of the south
ern city.
The main street, mile long,
was choked with terrific mass of
debris = = which means many who
manager to escape collapsing houses
were trapped under falling cornices
and large blocks of stone he said.
Il think 5000 dead in Chillan is a
conservative estimate"
A American Grace plane left
Santiago for Chillan to take Presi-
dent Pedro Aguirre Cerda on a tour
OF the stricken region and bring him
back to the capital
Some officials gave credence to es-
Inmates that the dead in Chillan
might total 10000
From other cities in the center of
the Chilean agricultural regions
came reports of other dead and in
jured and of homes destroyed. These
included: Talcahuano, 10 dead and
go injured; Pence, 100 to 120 killed;
Parral, 300 dead.
The lack of drinking water, of cleo
trio power service, of sufficient food
stores and of hospital facilities added
to the hardship and havoc in many
of these places
Cabinet Statement.
The cabinet met late last night and
after comforting for several hours
issued the following statement o.
(See QUAKE, Page A-3.)