SOVIET EARTHQUAKE KILLS THOUSANDS, LEVELS CITIES CHILDREN BURIED IN SCHOOL.(Main)

Byline: Associated Press

A devastating earthquake in Armenia leveled cities and wiped out villages, and Soviet officials said today that thousands of people were killed. Other reports said tens of thousands died.

Soviet officials said at least 50 children were buried by rubble when their school collapsed. They announced a massive relief effort in the mountainous southern republic of 3.3 million residents.

President Mikhail S. Gorbachev cut short his visit to the United States, and his aides said he was flying to Armenia to take command of the rescue operation.

Soviet officials reported thousands killed, but provided no detailed casualty count.

Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America in New York, quoted sources in Armenia as …