European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vol. 51, no. / 35c Friday april 24,1992 d 8693 a sewer blasts kill 200 search on for possible survivors trapped under debris in Mexico Guadalajara residents pick Over the ruins of Homes and autos that tumbled into a huge Street Trench. Guadalajara Mexico a hundreds of workers clawed through tons of debris thursday searching for the dead and the living after a series of explosions in the sewer lines wednesday wrecked a huge Section of Mexico a second largest City. The government reportedly said about 200 people were killed. The news Agency no Timex said a suburb near the blast area was ordered evacuated thursday because of fears of a new explosion. No Timex also quoted the attorney general of Jalisco state Leobardo Larios Guzman As saying that the death toll stood at 202. Twelve hours earlier his office had reported 132 dead. The red Cross said various Rescue agencies have been retrieving bodies and the count was not precise. Angry Guadalajara is demanded to know Why volatile Gas was allowed to build up in the sewer system and Why the government failed to act quickly on reports of a gasoline like smell permeating the area before wednesdays explosions. The cause of the nine blasts which gouged deep trenches in the streets of the la Reforma District was still unclear but some officials blamed a buildup of either an Industrial cleaning solvent or gasoline. Both the cooking Gas company and the state Oil monopoly Lemex denied any responsibility. Ambulances lights flashing and sirens blaring raced through the streets As workers some with specially trained dogs searched for bodies or anyone alive under the debris. Hundreds of soldiers stacked victims broken belongings from one wrecked House came Couch cushions childrens toys a set of illustrated encyclopedias. At least 600 people were Nurt and As Many As 15,000 people left homeless officials said. The homeless were taken to two stadiums until temporary shelters could be set up. The blasts devastated 20 to 25 Square City blocks ripping open United states Gulf of Mexico Pacific Ocean 500 Miles 500 pm Mexico City v. A and trucks  hurling cars into the air and blowing out Adobe houses. No Timex said Guadalajara mayor Enrique Dau Flores on thursday morning ordered an evacuation of the suburb of Al Alamo after residents there complained of Gas fumes. The area is surrounded by about 40 factories including a Lemex installation whose Tunc Tion was not immediately known. In Guadalajara army trucks were everywhere on the streets thursday. Traffic throughout the City was snarled because manhole covers had been either blown off or removed to Aid the dispersal of any Gas still in the sewer system. Floral funeral wreaths were stacked up outside a la neral Home where about 20 people waited Many of see blasts on Page 2strong quake shakes California los Angeles a a Strong earthquake Shook Southern California shortly before 10 . Wednesday damaging desert towns and causing minor injuries and state officials warned thursday there was a Chance of More tremors. The office of emergency services said that for the next three Days there will be a slightly increased likelihood of seismic activity in six Southern California counties although that likelihood was declining steadily. A was time goes by it keeps dropping Down and Down and Down a said Randy Clement a warning controller with the Oes in Sacramento. But he said no specific prediction was possible. The quake entered 110 Miles East of downtown los Angeles in desert hot Springs struck at 9 50 . Wednesday and measured 6.1 on the Richter scale. Buildings swayed in downtown los Angeles and tremors were Felt As far away As Arizona and Nevada and from san Diego to Santa Barbara 200 Miles up the coast. Witnesses estimates of the quakers duration ranged from 10 to 60 seconds. A it was a terrible shaking a said Mary Gibson of desert hot Springs. A we were just getting ready to go to bed and the whole House just Shook. It Felt like an  the quake damaged at least 10 buildings and knocked out Power in areas of Yucca Valley and Twenty nine Palms said san Bernardino county sheriffs dispatcher Bob Duncan. The quake also shattered super Market windows in Palm Springs. Highways and Bridges apparently sustained no damage officials said. About 20 people were taken to i desert medical Center in Joshua tree for treatment of minor injuries ranging from a broken ankle to cuts. Early thursday about six remained hospitalized with one asthma sufferer in intensive care said spokeswoman Jackie Pelfrey. A smaller quake had shaken the area just hours before. The late evening earthquake was along an unnamed North to South fault in the mountains about five Miles from the big san Andreas fault said Lucy Jones a Seis see quake on Page 2 Calif. No v it i Sun Runci co Pacific Ocean earthquake to. Angeles a a a a sort 200 Miles Springs pm san Diogo 200 pm. My Xico Masod on preliminary reports a to get 1-year medical Early outs by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau the defense department has updated its agreement with the Mutual of Omaha insurance co to provide health care coverage for up to one year for service members leaving the military during the draw Down officials said wednesday. The Short term coverage is meant to a soften the expensive transition be tween military and private health care coverage for involuntarily separated service members and their families As Well As those who Are leaving the military by Choice under the special separation Benefit said maj. Doug Hart a Pentagon spokesman. The sub which gives eligible separating service members a Lump sum based on rank and years of service is one of two voluntary incentive pay plans that the Pentagon is using during the draw Down. The insurance is not available for service members who select the other pay plan called the voluntary separation incentive. To get the new coverage eligible personnel who left the service on or after oct. 2,1991, must buy Mutual of Omaha a uniformed services voluntary insurance plan us Liphart  the new agreement includes a number of provisions for covering pre existing medical conditions that were not part of the old contract Hart said. Those eligible for the insurance can get a full year of coverage for pre existing conditions a medical conditions that arose while the sponsor was still on Active duty a by renewing their Uslip see insurance on Page 2