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N0KFQ > TODAY 23.11.13 17:59l 41 Lines 1666 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 7614_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Nov 23
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6ZDE<I0OJJ<VE3UIL<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 131123/1556Z 7614@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.57
Nov 23, 1980:
Southern Italy rocked by earthquake
An earthquake strikes Southern Italy on this day 1980, killing
more than 3,000 people. The casualty toll was so high in part
because the tremor struck during Sunday night mass, as many
residents sat in churches that crumbled in the quake.
The 7.2-magnitude quake struck at 7:34 p.m. on a Sunday night and
was centered in Eboli, south of Naples. In nearby Balvano,
children were preparing for their first communion at the
1,000-year-old Conza Della Compagna church. The violent shaking
demolished the church and killed scores of people, including 26
children.
Throughout Southern Italy, fires broke out when gas lines
ruptured. Since much of the area's water supply was disrupted by
broken piping, firefighting efforts were severely hampered. In
addition, extensive damage to the roads and railways leading into
the small villages that dominated the region slowed down the
rescue and relief efforts. To make matters even worse, a heavy
fog blanketed the area that evening and the following morning.
In the Apennine Mountains, hundreds of people were seriously
injured in the village of Pescaopagano, but there was no way to
help them because of the heavily damaged roads. Military
helicopters attempted, with limited success, to drop supplies
into the area. Over the next several weeks, it became clear that
approximately 3,000 people had died and 300,000 more would be
homeless as winter began. The government dispatched tents to more
than 200 towns affected by the earthquake and further disaster
was averted.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 2.8.0 c42
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