THE GREAT STORM IN MAURITIUS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8187, 1 June 1892, Page 5

THE GREAT STORM IN MAURITIUS.

Brass A^odation—Electric Telegraph—Copyright AiißAirr, May 31.

Details of the severe storm which visited Mauritius' are to hand. A third of Sb. Louis was annihilated. Countless houses aud public buildings, including twenty-four churches, were razed to the ground. The greater part of the sugar crop was destroyed, and it is estimated 25,000 people have been rendered homeless. There was no indication in the morning of the approach of the storm, bu«> at noon the wind increased to the rate of sixtyeight miles per hour, with terrific squalls, still no damage was done. At 2 30 p.m. there was a lull for an hour when suddenly the wind veered round to the south-west, a hissing noise was heard, followed by a squall of wind of tremendous speed, which burst like a clap of thunder,, causing fearful vibration of buildings.. Squall followed squall in quick succession, and the race of the wind blowing was 128 miles An hour* I'he sights in the streets were of a horrible nature as the buildings began to fall. The wind soon abated, and within an hour relief parties were out. The debris catching fire was a new element of destruction, and many of the wounded in the falling buildings were burnt to death. The estimated damage to buildings is 12,000,000 rupees, and to the sugar crop 14,000,000 rupees. The damage to the country is estimated at 2,000,000 rupees.