SWATOW TYPHOON.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1922, Page 5

SWATOW TYPHOON.

EFFECT GF TIDAL WAVE. STEAMER CARRIED TWO MILES. -details of the awful havoc of the typhoon which struck China, early in August, have been received by mail in Sydney from Hongkong. According to a letter received by Mr. W. N. Cuthbertson, general manager of the Newcastle and Hunter River Steamship Company, Ltd., the disaster was worse than could be imagiued. “They fear,’ states the correspondent, 'tnat the estimate of 20,000 dead will be exceeded many times, and I have seen the figure mentioned lately at 150,000. As far as I can find out, no Europeans were lost. Communication with Swatow is very difficult just now, as the wires are all blown away.” Apparently the typhoon had headed, straight for Hongkong, but it took a. twist northward clear of Swatow, and then, curling to the west, struck Swa*< tow ( with 'full force. The barometer dropped to 27Most of the damage was done by the tidal wave, which swept the • surrounding country. The wave varied from 10ft. to 15ft. high on top of a sudden rise of water, generally about 6ft. in. three minutes. One of the China Navigation Company vessel, which was 320 ft. long, was lifted •over a mud flat to two miles from her supposed safe anchorage and deposited on the bed of rock and sand.