DANISH SHIP MINED

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1948, Page 5

DANISH SHIP MINED

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Over 100 Thought Drowned Or Killed

CopvrWht)

Reeeived Friday, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, June 11. Reuter's Copenhagen corresponde'iu says tjie Danisli passeuger vessel Kjobenhavn (16(58 tous) hit a niiue at davn , loday on the east -coast of Jutland as she was entering au i'nlet to Aalborg. Slie sahk in 10 minutes. The ship carried 400 passengers. Only two lifeboats were laujiched. It is feared that a number of lives have been lost. AmbuiauceS aud teams of doetors and nurses rushed to the coast to attend the casualties and Dan ish naval uhits , have gone to thc res'eue. The Ivjobenhavn carried about 400 passengers. Two nundred were asleep in their berfhs 'when the explosion occurred. The remainder, who were travelling steerage,, spent the night on declc. The passengers following the explosion jumped into the sea in a panic. The Ivjobenhavn sank in shallow water which had been declared free of danger following extnnsive minesweep ing by the Danish Xavj^. It is estimaterl that elsewhete in the Kattegat there are still 2000 imswept mines. The British United Press 's Uopenhagen correspondent states that Captaiu Iviil retnrned to tlfe ship after it settled on the seabed and directed -f&e rescue operations from the top of the l)ridge which was protruding above water. Because the ship settled 011 its side it was impossible to getaway more than two i'ifeboats. Many of the reseued . were severeiv injured aud suffering from exhaustion. TJiey were taken to eniergcucy stations established on the beaches near Hals. Fishing vessel s and Danish naval units reseued more than 200 passeugers from the Kjobenhavn. A further '200 are uij.accounted for, but some will oe aboard fishing boats which have not ; yet landed their survivors. It was esti mated that about 100 were killed or drowned.