The Commonwealth - Heavy Toll

Sep 29, 2026

The Commonwealth newsletter coverage of a major earthquake disaster in Managua, Nicaragua, describing the timing and escalation of successive shocks and the resulting catastrophic toll on lives and infrastructure. It recounts emergency responses led by Ambassador Turner B. Shelton and subsequent communications to President Nixon, including urgent evacuation efforts and rapid U.S. Air Force relief supply airlifts. It also includes speeches and event-related notices alongside a later account of international and U.S. assistance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

Heavy Toll

Quick Response

Praise of U.S.

Officers of the Club

Governors of the Club

The Commonwealth FRI.,DEC.28TM,12 MOOW60LD BALLROOM,SHERATOM-PALACE HOTE Annual Holiday Concert andInauguration of 1974 Club Officers Music by theEI Camino High School Troupe Tickets $6.50 each. Tickets willbe mailed if check and self-addressed envelope are mailed toClub Office. FRIDAY,DECEMBER 14TH,12 NOOW 60LD BALLROOM,SHERATON-PALACE HOTEL HOWARD PETERSEN Chairman, The Fidelity Bank (Philadelphia)andMember of Secretary Shultz³Commit-fee on International Monetary Reform "U.S.STAKE ININTERNATIONALMONETARY REFORM” Is the dollar undervalued?Can the world get together on monetary reform?Howserious an effect will he energy crisis,both at home and abroad,have on the U.S.econ-omy?What factors are responsible for inflation,and can it be controlled?The U.S.hasresumed the selling of gold.Is this an indication that we are about to re-adopt the goldstandard,or that we never really renounced it in the first place?Tickets,$5.00,at door onlyJUDGE ROBERT H.SCHNACKE,Quarterly Chairman Frlday,December 21st:The Hon.Alexander Zinchuk,Consul General,USSR"Soviet Union,Uniled Sales and China in World Affalrs—a Soviet View" RETELLINGOFNHTMAR THATCOULDHAPPENHERE WEDNESDAY FLASHES-NOVEMBER 28THFrom Address by HIS EXCELLENCY ANASTASIO SOMOZA,Former President,Republie of Nicaragua “NICARAGUA is affectionately knownas the land of hills and lakes.'Its activevolcanoes indicate the special type of geo-logical formations usually connected withseismological activity.Our volcanie erup-tions are famous,and earthquakes havebeen with us since time immemorial. The City of Managua,situated on theshores of Lake Managua,and ringed byfour lagoons,covers an area of approxi-mately 35 square miles.In addition to itsbeing the capital of Nicaragua,Managuais the center of all the commercial,indus-trial,financial and cultural activities inthe country. # Heavy Toll That terrible night,the first and strong-est earthquake occurred at 12:30 a.m.,De-cember 23,1972.It was followed at 1:08 a.m.by another shock,and a third twominutes later.For about a month there-after,we continued to experience shakesof varying,though lesser,intensity. The toll in human lives was terrible:over 10,000 Nicaraguans dead;20,000 in-jured;1,500 city blocks flattened;over 50,000 homes totally destroyed;4 hospitalsreduced to rubble:the facilities of the firedepartment and the Red Cross demol-ished;over 1,200 classrooms wiped out;water,light and sewage systems rendered 90%inoperative;telephone,telegraph,radio and TV interrupted;small business90%destroyed;industry,25%damaged;banking,commercial and medical servicesparalyzed;over half a million made home-less. At 1:10 in the morning,your Ambassa-dor to my country,Turner B.Shelton,called me for help to evacuate U.S.per-sonnel from the American Embassy whichhad completely colapsed.Unfortunately,his personal secretary was one of the fatalities in the disaster,but we were ableto rescue the other members of his staff. Quick Response At 2:40 a.m.,the Ambassador ealled togive me his impressions of the destructionhe had seen in the city,and to offer hishelp.I drafted a cable to President Nixon,advising him that Nicaragua had suffereda major earthquake in the city of Mana-gua,and asking him for assistance.I alsorequested the Ambassador to have Wash-ington communicate with the other Cen-tral American countries and inform therest of the world of the tradegy my coun-try had suffered. President Nixon was awakened at 4 a.m.,and briefed on the situation in Mana-gua.By this time,the central part of thecity was in fames,and reports were com-ing in of total destruction.Within threehours of the briefing,the US.Air Force,based in Panama,had sent the first reliefsupplies.For the next ten days,the airlift (Ceacinaed an ness pago) | OPFICERS OF TME CLUB
The Commonwealth
Presldent
Bruce T.Mitchell
__Vlce Presldont
Venon L.Goodin
Donald P.Krot _Chmn.Ex.Comm.
Publlehed overy

FAQs

What events does the document describe for Nicaragua?

It describes a major earthquake in Managua, followed by extensive emergency relief operations and international assistance.

How did the response begin according to the document?

The account includes an emergency call for help to evacuate U.S. personnel, followed by drafting communications to President Nixon and coordinating support.

What kind of aid did the document say the United States and others provided?

It mentions initial relief supplies by U.S. Air Force airlift, support teams for assessment and recovery, and additional aid from around the world without political distinction.

Sep 29, 2026

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