TERIFFIC STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1929, Page 6

TERIFFIC STORM

IN CENTRAL EUROPE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, July 6. At least twenty perished in a violent storm of lightning, hail, and rain, which swept South Germany and Austria, causing immense crop and other damage. The Berlin “Times” correspondent says that the victims were mostly killed by lightning, falling trese and the capsizing of lake and river craft. One man with a horse and cart was blown into the river Danube near Straulnng, and was drowned. The hail stones were as big as fists, and they severely damaged the crops, and even cut the faces and hands of the people, when they were running for shelter. The hail also smashed seventy-five window panes on a BerlinMunich train, while thirty-five of the passengers were later treated for wounds caused by glass splinters. The roofs and chimneys in Vienna, and in nearly every town in Austria, were demolished, as also were telephones and telegraphs, these being reduced to chaos. Thousands of trees were uprooted, while the spires of several churches collapsed. In Vienna the Fire Brigade were called out to prop up the roofs and walls of no fewer than 120 houses.