FLOODS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17207, 26 July 1921, Page 7

FLOODS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

WIDESPREAD DAMAGE IN THE NORTH. (By Cable—ProM Awociation-^Copvrig'ht.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, July. 25. There were extensive floods in the : north coast districts on Saturday. Lismore, Murwillumbah, Kempsey, and were inundated. Two lives were lost at'Murwillumbah. The damage there is estimated at £IOO,OOO. All communication has been cut off, preventing further information. The Clarence river burst ifca. banks, the water rising 22 feet. North and South Grafton are partially flooded, but the waters are generally receding. Later. • The floods in the Northern districts were followed by .a cyclonic storm which did severe damage to property. Six inches of rain fell in a few hours. The rivers rose with unexpected rapidity, breaking their banks. They swept intb the townships mentioned late at night. The main streets were deeply flooded, and many shops and residences were feet deep in water. People were caught nappmg, # and made their exit with difficulty m the darkness. Many places were completely surrounded, and the inmates were taken out by rescue boats. , At Murwillumbah a baby worked from its escaping mother's arms, and was drowned. A man was drowned thmuorh the overturning of a boat. Wide areas along the # rivers are inundated, and there is widespread damage; It is feared-that other lives have been lost, But until the waters subside it is impossible to ascertain the full extent of the damage. FIVE PERSONS DROWNED. (Received July 25th, 10.10 p.m.V SYDNEY, July 25. In, most of the flooded areas the water receded quickly, though in some districts the worst is not yet k nown / ,A police warning enabled many residents on low-lying grounds to escape. Numerous thrilling experiences are related. Some residents were compelled to spend the night on a roof in the pouring rain. A few houses were swept away bodily. The scarcity of boats delayed the rescue work. So far as is known five persons were drowned. The rainfall for thirtfcsix hours was nearly eight inches. The losses .of stock are immense, some farms being ftfleen feet under water. a