FLATS COLLAPSE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 219, 10 May 1932, Page 5

FLATS COLLAPSE

(Press. Assn.—

TRAGEDY IN FRANCE over thirty people buried when two blocks overwhelmed M. HERRIOT AMONG RESCUERS

-By TelegTa.pli— Copyright) .

Rec. May 9, 7.0 p.m. PARIS, Monday. A heavy death-roll estimated at between 30 and 35 is feared at Qual d'Herberville, Lyons, where the collapse of two five-storey blocks. of flats situated on the right bank of the Rhone was followed by an outburst of fire owing to a rupture. of the gas mains. The dead include the well-known specialist, Dr, Joly, his wife and seven children. There were at least forty-five pe-r-sons in the building only ten of whom were rescued. The reeuers included M. Herriot, who resides in the neighbourhood. With 50 others he was digging in at attempt to reach the entombed people when a second landslide caused a tremendous fall of earth, injuring the captain of the fire brigade. The fall stopped short of M. Herriot's party. M. Herriot who is Mayor of Lyons, was urged to retire -owing to his political responsibilities and possibility of hecoming Premier. He replied: 'If other are endangered I must stay," and continued digging imperturbably despite the danger of further subsidences, which eventually led to a temporary abandonment of the efforts to extricate the bodies. All the neighouring houses have been evacuated.