GRIM SEARCH FOR BODIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26623, 20 November 1947, Page 6

GRIM SEARCH FOR BODIES

Ruins of Ballantyne’s Building Still Smouldering P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 19. Although it is not yet possible to establish definitely the number of casualties in the tragic fire which destroyed Ballantyne’s Building yesterday afternoon, 41 persons are now classified by the police as definitely missing, or missing, not yet confirmed. Thirty-nine bodies have been recovered from the charred shell of the building. One woman died in hospital yesterday and two injured persons—one in hospital—and nine persons previously reported missing are now reported safe. All to-day, police, firemen and army personnel continued the grim task of searching for bodies among the ruins. They were helped by City Council workmen who cleared away the nibble and debris. Demolition work was also started and to-day hoses were kept playing on the smouldering ruins. At a late hour to-night, soldiers who had taken over from the fire brigade kept the hoses going. Working under powerful lights supplied by a mobile army generator and in steady rain, police and soldiers continued the grim search for bodies far into the night. Only one of the bodies recovered and now in the morgue at the Public Hospital affords the slightest clue to indentification. It is the body of a woman with a wedding ring on the ring finger of the right hand. . i.