Earthquake
In November 1980 Andy Mac found himself caught up in the major earthquake that hit
southern Italy.
The epicentre was a small town called Eboli, 50 miles south of Naples it measured 6.9 on the Richter
scale
killing 2,735 people,
and injuring many more. Older buildings in Naples collapsed and for weeks after
the quake, large parts of the population slept on the streets in fear of going
back to their homes.
For some time, Andy's family in the UK had no news of him as all communications with the
area had
been cut off. Unaware
of the concern back home he carried on as if nothing had happened!
Andy recalls,
"The evening of the earthquake I was not working and although
I was feeling pretty rough
having
had Flu for most of the week, I went to watch a movie at the cinema on the local US Navy Base
called NSA. Actually I can't remember what movie it was but
I do remember this low rumbling noise
began,
quickly growing louder and louder, soon it overpowered the sound track of the movie.
I remember someone
shouting 'Earthquake!' as everything started to shake, the movie stopped
and everyone jumped up and ran outside.
Still feeling awful I sat on a
small wall outside of the cinema and looked at the streetlamps which
seemed to be waving backwards and forwards in the most extraordinary way, and
then to my amazement
the wall
moved! And that made me jump!
A young lady standing near me asked
quite naively, 'What was that?'
I recall looking at her, and with equal stupidity said, 'I don't
know, but I am going for a beer'
And that is exactly what I did!"