HEAVY FATALITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1932, Page 5

HEAVY FATALITIES

IN WEST INDIES

HURRICANE AND TIDAL WAVE.

(United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

HAVANA, November 12

The hurricane death roll will probably exceed one thousand, and it is believed will exceed 1500, with an unknown number of injured. Millions of dollars worth of . property lias been destroyed.

It is feared that one thousand are dead in the sea port of Santa Crez del Cur, which was completely destroyed. It was swept over by a twenty-foot tidal wave.

There were pathetic scenes. One wa 3 when a wojnan made an attempt to sa’ 3 her children from drowning. Many bodies have been swept inland and have not yet been found. Others were swept out to sea Some of the survivors committed suicide after seeing ;heir wives and children swept away. The authorities are not attempting to retain the bodies for identification. They are burning them in great pyres. Some forty per cent, of the Cuban sugar crop was destroyed. Great stores were also demolished, The latest reports . indicate that at least 1700, and perhaps two thousand, have been killed in the hurricane.

Reports from smaller islands state that 87 were killed on the Cayman Islands, of Jamaica, and two were killed at the Bahamas. It is likely many others were killed elsewhere.

DEATH ROLL INCREASES.

NOW ESTIMATED AT 2500.

KINGSTON (Jamacia), November 13

At least eighty are dead at Moren, and three hundred seriously injured. Damage totalling one million dollars was inflicted on Tuesday at the Cayman Islands, by the hurricane which struck Cuba, the next day. All the buildings on Caymaubrae and Little Cayman' were . demolished and survivors are suffering from exposure. The Secretary for the Interior, Senor Zubizarreta, on Sunday morning estimated the dead from the Cuban hurricane and tidal wave., at'two thousand five hundred. His estimate followed a three hour inspection in Santaelara, and it is estimated that seventy per cent of the population of Santa Cruz was wiped out. The wreckage served as funeral pares. Dr. Anibal Penia, the Santt Cruz health officer,, estimated .that on,athousand bodies were buried tinder his supervision. Hundreds are still grouped everywhere. Water -scarcity ' caused the fear of epidemics, particularly of measles, of which there have been several eases. Food and medical supplies are being rushed to the stricken areas, and doctors are working feverishly restoring sanitation facilities and inoculating against disease.