FLOODS IN EUROPE.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1926, Page 1

FLOODS IN EUROPE.

1 Australia & N.Z. Cable Association._ PARIS, Jan. 2. The floods are extending to the provinces and in some places are alarmingly high. Several million francs damage has been caused in the region of Caen in Normandy. Thousands of workmen are idled in the North East, owing to tho necessity of closing the factories. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 2. The dyke" ore tho river Meuse, near Cuyck, ‘has collapsed. Torrents! of water are rushing into tlio eastern part of the province of Brabant. The situation is critical. The King and several of the Ministers have visited the inundated regions. , , , . The Minister of Labour has telegraphed unemployment pay to the flooded districts. The possibility _is boinc considered of requistioniiig thousands of pumps throughout tho country and concentrating them on tho flooded areas. Over eight thousand houses at IJo go are under water. The Government is taking in gent measures to cope with the disaster Tlio floods in the districts of the rivers Meuse, Waal, Rhine, and Lok liavo assumed the character ol a giea catastrophe. , The railway dykes have collapsed in several places, and are threatening to collapse in others. Ihe damaces is so serious that it may be a month before the railway traffic can bo resumed. . Several villages are practically evacuated, and the cattle have been transferred to higher land. The au-ho-rities aro working day and night to assist the population. LONDON. Jan. 3. 'A Hague message states that tho Queen of Holland, the Prince Consort and tho President of the Dutch Red Cross Society liavo left to ascertain the damage by the floods in the provinces of Celd'crland and Limbing. BRUSSELS, Jan. 2. Tho Belgian newspapers and the Belgian Red Cross Society have opened funds in aid of tho victims of the floods, which constitute a national disaster. r A LONDON. Jan. 1.

Owing to widespread floods in Fnglaiid, many football and hockey matches have been cancelled. The Thames river has overflowed its banks in several places, and it is still rising Many bungalows at Sunbury and Chertsey are cut off. Boats arc being employed to deliver goods.