Floods in Europe

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 214, 19 December 1910, Page 5

Floods in Europe

A WET WINTER

By Cable—Press Association— Copyright. London, December 16. Floods have isolated Langport, in Somersetshire. Thousands of acres in the upper Thames and West Sussex districts are also inundated, in some pla'ces to a depth of 12 feet. So far there have been thirteen days' rain this month. The total sunshine recorded in London during December has not amounted ,lo three hours. FLOODS IN EUROPE. GREAT DAMAGE IN ENGLAND. THE MIDLANDS AN INLAND SEA. Received IS, 5.5 p.m. London, December 17. Violent gales continue in England and Wales. The Dover, Calais, and Ostend mail services are suspended. Protective works at Selsey were swept away, and the peninsula converted into an island. Six fishermen were drowned at Arklow. Vast areas in the Midlands are under water. Tihe whole countryside in Warwickshire is an inland sea, and stock has been swept away. The low-lying parts of Nottingham are flooded.

GALE WORKS HAVOC IN SOUTH ENGLAND. PIERS AND EMBANKMENTS DESTROYED. HURRICANE IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL. Received 18, 5.5 p.m. London, December 18. A seventy-mile gale wrought havoc at southern watering-places. Promenades were destroyed, and piers damaged. The sea swept Hastings, flooding the hotels, shops, and houses in the principal square.

The sea burst the esplanade at Portsmouth, and flooded half of Southsea. It was a common sight to see boats in the streets at Monmouth and Cowee. The hurricane in the Bristol Channel did extensive damage. At Dfracombe all the shops on the promenade were invaded by the sea, and their contents destroyed. The walls of several houses were demolished. Many 4 gallant lifeboat rescues have been recorded.

GREAT INUNDATION IN SPAIN.

CTIY OF SEVILLE THREATENED,

Received 18, 5.5 p.m. Madrid, December 17

The Guadilquiver river is twenty-eight feet above its normal level, and the plain of Seville is one vast lake.

A bridge of boats at Alcala del Ria broke their moorings, and three men were drowned. The flood is within six inches of the top of the embankment erected for the protection of Seville. The safety of the city is due to the efforts of Meline, the port engineer, since the floods of fifteen years ago.