AFTERMATHS OF EARTHQUAKES; WRECKED BUILDINGS; SURVIVOR WITH SALVAGED GOODS; SHELTERING FROM RAIN; WRECKAGE GENERAL SCENE.




Initials RC/JF/SA



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ACCORDING TO A POLICE REPORT TODAY (FRIDAY) FROM KAMPALA, THE CAPITAL OF UGANDA, THE DEATH TOLL IN EARTHQUAKES IN WESTERN AREAS THIS WEEK HAS NOW RISEN TO 104. IN ADDITION, ABOUT 500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED AND 2,157 HOMES DESTROYED OR DAMAGED.

THE MAIN SHOCK HIT THE BWAMBA COUNTY OF WESTERN UGANDA LAST SUNDAY, AND FURTHER TREMORS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS ADDED TO THE HORROR. A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THREE QUARTERS OF THE EARTHQUAKE DEATHS WERE INSTANTANEOUS.

MUD AND WATTLE HUTS WERE CRUMBLED TO DUST AS THE SHOCK ROARED THROUGH. CONTINUING TREMORS FED AFRICAN RUMOUR THAT THE UPHEAVAL WOULD LAST NINE DAYS, - THE SAME PERIOD AS THE LAST MAJOR EARTHQUAKE IN 1929. THIS ONE FOLLOWED THE CROWNING OF A KING OF TORO, ONE OF UGANDA'S CONSTITUENTS KINGDOMS. SUNDAY'S DESTRUCTION CAME JUST A FORTNIGHT AFTER THE CORONATION OF TORO'S NEW KING PATRICK, WHO WAS A SCHOOLBOY AT SHERBORNE, ENGLAND, UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO.

THE SHOCKWAVES DEVASTATED MOST OF THE TOWN OF BUNDIBUGYO, NINE MILES (15 KM) FROM THE CONGO REPUBLIC. LANDSLIDES CRASHING DOWN THE SIDES OF THE RUWENZORI MOUNTAINS - THE FABLED "MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON" CAUSED FURTHER DESTRUCTION. TWO MISSION STATIONS WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED AND SEVEN SCHOOLS WRECKED IN THE VICINITY OF BUNDIBUGYO.