FLOOD CATASTROPHE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1930, Page 6

FLOOD CATASTROPHE

IN SOUTH OF FRANCE

i United Press Association— By Electrii

Telegraph—Copyright),

PARIS, .March 4

There has been torrential rain m the Languedoc Region, and it has caused the loss of more than thirty lives. The rivers overflowed on to the farms, which have been de\ astaied for miles. Railway lines have been destroyed, bridges bavo collapsed and vineyards have been submerged. Perpignan is completely cut oil. There are six hundred men marooned in a partly destroyed factory at. Cambros.

The inhabitants of Aloutauban believed that the end of the world had conic, their bouses falling down. Dozens of soldiers, who were engaged there in rescue work were drowned in the view of scores of helpless onlookers. Patients were removed from the hospital in boats. More rain has fallen in twenty-loin hours than the average rainfall for a year. Besides this, water has been pouring down from the snow clad mountains. Four of the Cabinet Ministers have gone to supervise the relief work. It is feared that the death roll will approach one hundred. There were heartrending scenes in the villages near Aloutauban, where people were marooned on their roots, and were praying for help. One hundred houses collapsed in the village of Revues, where the aged Parish Priest was saved, hut bis housekeeper perished in the ruins ol the Presbytery. One of the rescuers was drowned, while the other had to swim for his life.

WORST FOR 55 YEARS

LONDON, March 4. Tho “Daily Mail’s’’ Toulouse correspodent says The floods are the worst experienced in the South of France since the year 1875. Hundreds of miles of the roads have dishppemed. and a great many bridges were swept away. The river Tarn rose suddenly while the population of Montauban were in bed. Soldiers and police formed a chain to rescue one family, but a tree trunk swept down the stream and ■broke the chain. Ten of the soldiers were drowned.

Scores of the inhabitants of Gastres are believed to have been drowned when the waters rose, and overwhelmed their dwellings.

The floods were caused by heavy snowfalls on the Ceycncss melting. It is believed that the damage will reach millions sterling.