1.
AERIAL VIEW Smoke coming from devastated area (2 shots)
0.20

2.
TS Destroyed houses, people rescuing belongings (3 shots)
0.35

3.
SV Homeless cooking & drinking water (2 shots)
0.48

4.
SV Victims carrying away belongings (2 shots)
1.05

5.
GV EXT Building ZOOM INTO Collapsed roof
1.12

6.
GV Collapsed U.S. Embassy building PAN TO Car prot crushing car
1.20

7.
SV Troops controlling operations
1.28

8.
GV Homeless among wreckage
1.33

9.
GV Evacuees among possessions (2 shots)
1.42

10.
MCU Child
1.46

11.
SV & GV Refugees carrying away belongings (4 shots)
2.10

12.
MV Boy holding Santa Claus model
2.16



Initials ESP/1???47


TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of homeless and shocked refugees began fleeing the earthquake-devastated city of Managua, capital of Nicaragua, on Sunday (24 December), as geologists warned of possible new 'quakes within the next day or so.

The known death toll is placed so far at 800, but Government officials admit it is impossible to get a true figure of the dead at this stage. Unofficial Red Cross and police estimates range form 15,000 to 20,000.

All conceivable forms of transport are being used to carry evacuees from the city which was almost levelled by the earthquake on Saturday (23 December).

Private cars, buses and lorries piled high with mattresses, furniture and personal belongings choked roads leading out of the city. In some cases, refugees are reported to have been asked to pay for transport. All available Government transport is being used to carry food and medical aid.

The fear of disease is high on the list of Government problems with thousands of bodies believed to be buried beneath the rubble. This, and the shortage of water, food and medical supplies, led the ruling junta to order the entire city of 350,000 to be evacuated.

Troops patrol the streets to prevent looting, and have been ordered to shoot on sight anyone found looting.

As the evacuees head for nearby towns not so heavily hit by the earthquake, geologists report the possibility of new and serious earthquakes.

In the streets, littered by debris and gaily-coloured lights that will never be lit, Christmas for the people of Managua was a time of desolation and fear.

SYNOPSIS: Smoke pours from devastated areas of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, as the full extent of the desolation caused by Saturday's violent earthquake becomes evident. The once placid Central American city is a scene far from the traditional one at Christmas.

People roam the streets seeking help, food and water.... still shocked by the stunning suddenness of the earthquake which hit in the early hours of the morning. Food is scarce, and little water is to be found. Firemen from the neighbouring countries of Honduras and Costa Rica had to bring their own water with them to help fight the fires which raged among the devastated buildings.

With the fear of disease high on the list of Government problems, the ruling junta has ordered the entire city of 350,000 to be evacuated. Thousands of bodies are believe to be buried beneath the rubble.

Many of them had no chance of escaping as buildings collapsed without warning.

Troops patrol the streets to prevent looting, and have been ordered to shoot on sight anyone found looting.

The known death toll is placed so far at eight-hundred, but Government officials admit it is impossible to tell yet just how many died. Unofficial Red Cross and police sources range from fifteen-thousand to twenty-thousand. All conceivable forms of transport are being used to move the evacuees from the danger area. Private cars, buses and lorries piled high with personal belongings choke roads leading form the city. In some cases, refugees are reported to have been asked to pay for transport. All available Government vehicles are being used to carry food and medical aid, as geologists warn of the possibility of further serious earthquakes.