December 16, 1923 - Topics on Newspapers.com

Powered by Ancestry AI This feature is powered by an AI language model using public information. Quality and accuracy may vary. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Newspapers.com™ or Ancestry®.

News from December 16, 1923 (Daily News, via Newspapers.com™)

Colombia Experiences Earthquake and Volcanic Eruption

In December 1923, a significant earthquake occurred near the Colombian-Ecuadorian frontier, particularly impacting the region of Ipiales. The tremors led to the complete destruction of two small towns, Cumbal and Chiles. Additionally, the Chiles volcano erupted, adding to the severity of the disaster.

Reports indicated that at least 85 lives had been lost in the catastrophe. Among those were the wife and father of the mayor of Cumbal. The earthquake caused widespread devastation, affecting people across different social classes.

In the aftermath, landslides obstructed the road from Cumbal to Ipiales, complicating the efforts to assess the damage and coordinate rescue operations. Several neighboring villages were also believed to have sustained significant damage. The Colombian government dispatched a commission of officials to inspect the affected area and manage relief operations.

The post-quake scenario brought about an acute homelessness crisis. Most of the homes had been destroyed, leaving many people without shelter. The lack of food compounded the situation, causing further distress.

The earth shocks persisted after the main temblor but with decreased intensity. These aftershocks, though less damaging, instilled fear among the survivors. Concurrently, the Chiles volcano located on the slopes of the town of Chiles became active, raining lava and ashes on the surrounding countryside.

Learn more about December 16, 1923 through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.