Italian Disaster

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1922, Page 3

Italian Disaster

insTinuo; and N.Z. CAHLE ASSOCIATION. Ml DEAD BODIES. ROME, Sept 28. Forty dead bodies, including that of an Army .Marshal, have bo;tn recoieiod ;i|, Spezzie, as the result of the explosion. Fort Fatcnmirn and the villages of Sou Torosio ami l itelli aie greatly damaged. LONDON. Sept. 28,

Rome reports state the latest estimates slum that two hundred were killed in connection with the explosion at Fort Faleonnra. So far Ml bodies have beep recovered ae San lo resio.

A GRAVE DISASTER

(Received this dav at 8 a.m ' ROME, September 2

Details from Spezzia show the I'alcimnra explosion was more disastrous than at lirst expected. There were 14-1 bodies rev.:’, ered in Saute Rensjo alone. The numba- of dead in ether villages is still unknown. The explosion was due to a short circuit, m l lightning. Fifteen hundred tons of cxpLsivos weio alfe-cted. The devastation covered a tadins of seven miles'. The villages of Laricj, I’ugicla. Uliro, Vuttcllo and Muggianu were badly damaged. Some reports state hundreds nt people lot their lives, but a moderate estimate is two hundred killed and five hundred wounded. Immediately alter the (lash. great Haines were seen to leap up. The whole magazine seemed to go up in one ron-. The workers rushed in a panic from tV fort, lmt before they reached safety the explosion came. Many were killed by the concussion and others by falling debris, specially women rod children, who were buried when the houses collapsed.

Ships in Spezzia harbour were tossed about by giant waves. 'Troops civilians and Fascisti volunteered for the rescue work, hut the darkness and a raging storm hampered them. The wounded were soon arriving ill large numbers at Spezzia hospital. A"mv rescuers have gone to Smite Renzo t"> assist in clearing away the ruins.