In West Germany, an earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale left 19 people injured and hundreds of buildings damaged on Sunday (3 September). The quake was the worst to hit West Germany for 25 years, and also affected parts of France, Austria, Switzerland and East Germany.

SYNOPSIS: The epicentre was in the Swabian Alps, and one of the worst-hit towns was Albstadt in the district of Toilfingon Police said almost every house and building in the town was damaged to some extent. A state of catastrophe was declared and emergency centres were set up to supervise rescue work.

Very few buildings collapsed completely, but most houses were left with gaping racks in walls, and many roofs will have to be completely restructured. Chairmeys also suffered badly in the quake. Many residents of Albstadt and other affected towns left their homes and gathered in public parks and on the streets, fearing follow-up tremors. Others, whose cars had survived without being damaged, packed up and moved out to stay with relatives and friends in what were regarded as safer areas.

One of the most severely damaged buildings in the area was the decient ???zollorn Castle, one of the ancestral homes of the ???. Repairmen arrived at the historic building with in hours of the earthquake to assess the damage. Many of the ??? were shaken loose, and some heavy sections of ??? were knocked off. Inside, walls showed lengthy cracks, pictures and portraits had been shaken off their hooks, and stairways were damaged. The castle authorities say it will have to be closed to the public for at least six months.