FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 86, 21 January 1928, Page 5

FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

NEW HEBRIDES DISASTER. MANY LIVES LOST. (Press Association—Copyright.) | SUVA, January 20. The Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides, reports that a serious fire and an explosion occurred at Vila on the night of January 17. The two main stores belonging to Ballands and Co., and a bulk store belonging to de Bechade and Co. were completely demolished, together with three small buildings and some timber yards. No Government buildings were affected. The known casualties are: — Dead: French one, British two, Chinese and Tbngkinese three. Severely injured: Europeans seven, natives fifteen. Minor injuries: Europeans and French four, natives, thirty. The British Commandant of Police and the Assistant-Commandapt received superficial injuries in the execution ol their duty. The fire is now extinguished. • It is unofficially estimated that the loss is probablv £200,000. NINE BURNED TO DEATH. SYDNEY, January 20. Advices- received from the New Hebrides state that nine persons were burned to death in a fire which destroyed the premises of the French New Hebrides Company. The manager and five members of the staff were entrapped in a store and burned. Altogether there were 45 casualties, caused mostly by exploding ammunition.