THE SWATOW DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2468, 17 August 1922, Page 4

THE SWATOW DISASTER.

AWFUL LOSS OF LIFE. ESTIMATED AT .ILI Xl)!{El) THOUSAND By Electric Telegraph— Oopyright. ‘ t NEW YORK, ,\u*. i:». The New York World publishes the first detailed cable, account of the Swatow disaster. It was the most terrific typhoon ever experienced on the China coast. The loss id lile is now estimated at 100,000, hut it will take weeks to ascertain tho exact extent o! the calamity. Warnings early in the day oi August 2 indicated the approach of a storm, and all shipping, including the sampans and junks, in which half the population live, sought shelter in the harbour. The typhoon was raging at its height by night, the wind blowing at the rate of 100 miles per hour, with deluges of rain.

A huge tidal wave, carried by the wind, swept the neighbouring country towns, and literally swept them nvayas far as 200 miles inland.

Swatow scenes resemble Yprcs. The storm destroyed all food stocks and water supplies. Thousands of dead are collected unburied in the temple compounds owing to the lack of coffins. Shipping suffered heavily. Five ocean liners were driven ashore, and three hopelessly stranded inshore. All small craft, housing 50,000 natives, were wiped out. All piers and pontoons were wrecked, making it impossible for relief vessels to land supplies. Swatow is under 1(1 feet of water, and the harbour is full of floating dead bodies. Famine is raging.—A. and N.Z. cable.