Evening star., 1939-01-25
City Of 100000
Reported Razed
In Chile Quake
1000 Feared Dead
In Conception;
Aid Is Rushed
BY the Associated Press.

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SANTIAGO, Chile. Jan, 2s.-An
army plane surveying the scene Of
disastrous Chilean earthquake to-
day flew low over Chillan, 22O miles
south of Santiago, and reported
finding the city of 10000 inhabitants
completely destroyed"
The report of heavy damage to
Chillan came as three army planes
flew south to check unconf1rmed re-
ports 1000 persons had been killed
in Conception. important coastal
city so miles southwest of Chillan.
The Mayor of Conception sent d
terse message to the government
saying: Situation most serious as
result of the earthquake Unable
to state number of casualties, but
many hundreds, probably thousands
Require food, medical aid. Desper-
ately urgent"
All Planes Commandeered.
All available planes in Santiago
were commandeered for relief and
survey work as the government
rushed medical and food supplies to
the stricken area by train, plane and
boat. Hundreds of doctors and
nurses were mobilized for earth
quake relief duty.
Conception and the nearby coastal
City of Talcahuano were placed un-
der form of martial law.
Official reports said that 100 dead
had been counted thus far, exclusive
of Chillan, and more than 500 in
jured.
Shattered communication lines
hampered officials striving to obtain
a clear picture of the extent of the
disaster. Trains proceeded slowly,
fearful of quake-weakened roadbeds.
and all passenger trains were held
up near Talca, 80 miles north of
Chillan
President Pedro Aguirre Cerda
and several cabinet members de-
parted for the quake area on a spe-
cial train with 40 physicians, 10
nurses and medical supplies.
Railway Disrupted.
First reports said the majority of
houses were destroyed in Renaico,
small town so miles south of Con-
cepcion, and the railway disrupted
IN numerous places. Forty per cent
of Concepcions houses were re-
ported demolished.
messages received by Pan
American Airways in New York
quoted estimates that 1000 per-
sons had been killed in Concep-
cion and 40 per cent of the city's
buildings had been demolished.
CPan-American-Gr Grace Airways,
which serves the western coast of
South America placed a long
range plane at the disposal of
the Chilean government for sur
vey and relief purposes.)
Early reports had accounted for
IA dead IN the quake area, which
included Talca, city of $4,000 in
habitants.
A radio message from the Chile
Telephone Co.'S manager, sent from
San Rosendo, Is miles south of Con-
cepcion, said that probably 1000
persons had been killed in Concep-
cion.
Other sources, however. consid-
cred this estimate too high despite
radio reports that three big fires
were raging in the center of the
coastal city.
Center of the quake was believed
to be the mountainous region along
the border of Biobio and Malleco
provinces. south of Conception.
The government instructed cara
bineros, army, navy, state railways
and state telegraph employees to OBJ
tain exect information concerning
magnitude of the disaster and
warned against eXaggeration.
Reports from Talca, midway be-
tween Santiago and Conception,
said eight persons were killed and
20 injured there, but little damage
was caused by the quake.
Other Cities Reports.
From other cities of the region
came these preliminary reports:
Angel, five dead; Talcahuano, seven
killed, many injured; San Carlos,
small town near Chillan, widespread
property damage; Parral, many VIC
Tins and great damage; Cautin,
many victims and serious damage.
Soldiers sped to this area, which
included the city of Talca with
population of $4,000, and Concep-
cion, port city of 77,000 people.
The navy, government and COM
mercial stations could not establish
(See QUAKE, Page A-4)