ITALIAN DISASTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3641, 30 November 1920, Page 5

ITALIAN DISASTER.

EXPLOSION OF MUNITIONS. WIDE .AREA DEVASTATED. MILAN, Nov. 28. A terrible series of explosions of war munitions, the results of which cannot yet be stated, but which may involve the loss of a hundred lives, occurred yesterday at Vergato, 18 mile's from Bologna, wrecked that town and four villages, and broke windows in Milan, 30 miles distant.

j The explosions continued for thirty ifchours, but their extent has not been ascertained, as the whole district is like a burning volcano, and is unapproachable. Depots storing hundreds of tons of picric acicT'and huge stacks of bombing shells were blown up. It is known that twenty lives have been lost, and that scores have been injured, while in addition a hundred men are missing. '• Vergato, a town of 4000 inhabitants, has been practically levelled. It presents the appearance of wax-devastated territory. Railway stations, churches, schools and factories were wrecked, and steel girders crashed through house roof s»a mile distant. Members of : the fire brigades and troops weTe severely injured in endeavouring to .penetrate the scene of the disaster. ••■ ,