STORMS AND FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1931, Page 2

STORMS AND FLOODS

IN SOUTHERN BRITAIN

j(J mt-ed PrFss Auaociaiion—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright/

RUGBY, May 28

Violent thunderslornls broke over the South of England, last night, and the early hours to-day, causing considerable damage, particularly in the Western and in Wales.

Several buildings ivep§ 9 truck jiy lightning, and in some oases {ires resuited, but no loss of life is reported.

The most serious damage was the result of floods. The storm caused great havoc in South AVales. Several rivers burst their banks, and flooded the houses in the low-lying districts. Po'ntnewyiidd (Monmouthshire) was deserted during the night by the occupants, who had temporary accommodation in a local cinema'. In some cases, it was necessary to use boats to rescue people trapped in houses, in Clun Valley on the borders of AVales. The heaviest damage was done at Abergavenny, where many people are homeless, and landslides of considerable proportions are reported. The local rail services in some cases were dislocated.

Camps of units of the Territorial Army undergoing training at AVeymoutli, Minehcad and Monmouth, were flooded out.

IN OTHER PARTS. LONDON, May 28. During the storm some London houses were struck by lightning, but the damage was slight. Two cargo air liners made forced landings' during the storm. One wa« the Imperial Ainva y s City of Melbourne, which wias bound for Paris with newspapers from Croydon. It came down near Luton. The nndei-car-riage was damaged, but the airmen were uninjured. , The second was a French Ah' Union machine, which encountering the storm on the. journey from Lympue to Paris returned and landed at Ameisham in Buckinghamshire.