894.48B/345
The Chargé in Japan (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 7, 1924.]
Sir: With reference to my despatch No. 132–E of December 14, 1923,40 regarding the recent earthquake disaster, I have the honor to report that the Home Office now announces that the number of houses directly destroyed by the earthquake in the devastated area was 134,963, while the number of houses destroyed by fire in that [Page 495] region was 444,576. At the same time, 794 houses were destroyed by landslides and tidal waves.
The number killed in the entire area was 144,720; injured, 102,409; missing, 50,601.
Of the killed in Tokyo, 33,000 (19,566 men, 24,425 women) were above 50 years of age; 28,364 (21,300 men, 7,064 women), between 30 and 40 years; 30,616, between 3 and 10 years; and 8,020, of unknown age.
The figures for the injured in Tokyo are also interesting, showing that 18,253 (8,200 boys, 10,058 girls) were between 5 and 10 years; and over 20,047 (13,854 men, 7,893 women) were above 50 years.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩