This Day In 1970's History: Sunday December 24, 1972
- The complete evacuation of Managua was ordered by government leaders there for fear of further tremors and a typhoid outbreak. Managua was a city of 300,000; today it is 70% destroyed. The death toll is unknown but is at least 5,000, perhaps much higher. 20,000 people were injured in the quakes and most are homeless. The city is without fresh water or communications.
The streets of Managua are filled with people looking for food and water. An epidemic is likely due to the 90-degree heat. Soldiers have been ordered to shoot looters on sight. Honduras, which is officially at war with Nicaragua, has opened its doors to Nicaraguan refugees. Americans in Managua are being evacuated by Air Force transport. Relief supplies are now reaching Managua. The U.S. is contributing $1 million. [NBC]
- American bombers are observing a Christmas cease-fire over North Vietnam. The Viet Cong and South Vietnamese are also observing the cease-fire. The U.S. reported the loss of another B-52 and a fighter-bomber. A C-130 gunship was shot down today over Laos; the bombing halt does not apply to Laos. [NBC]
- In Paris, North Vietnam's chief negotiator Xuan Thuy said that there can be no peace negotiations until the bombing is stopped. Thuy claims that in his last talk with Henry Kissinger, Kissinger tried to remove all references to the Viet Cong from the peace agreement. [NBC]
- Pope Paul said that peace in Vietnam is now a passion of the entire world. The Pope celebrated mass in a railroad tunnel in Rome. [NBC]
- The condition of former President Harry Truman is getting steadily worse. Truman has been at Research Hospital in Kansas City for 19 days and in a coma since Friday night. Hospital spokesman John Dreves said that Truman's heart is worse, his blood pressure weaker, and respiration slow and shallow. Truman is in critical condition. In Independence, Missouri, neighbors offered Christmas prayers for Truman. [NBC]
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