THE HAKODATE TRAGEDY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21122, 24 March 1934, Page 13

THE HAKODATE TRAGEDY

* Dead Estimated at 1000 national disaster ,'l M'l EC) »«.,• TlCLt.'jKAi'ii — (Received March 23, 5.5 p.m t TOKYO. March 22. The police estimate that 700 were killed outright. 300 died later, ana 2000 are injured and missing, as the result of the fire which last night destroyed the greater part of the eity of Hakodate. It is confirmed that the residents of the British and other consulates aie tafe. Twenty-three thousand building* were destroyed. The amount of the damage is not yet estimated officially, but it will approach 100,000.000 yen (about £ 5.800.000 t. The insurance amounts to 30.000.000 von, Since the 1f23 earthquake this is the worst catastrophe that has bt~ fallen Japan. iKi'cpt perhaps earthquake 01 a year in north-eastern pi efectures. The Government is mtre'dny.ng a bill in the Diet remitting 1.900.00U V en of Hakodate's taxes, and is also estimating in the budget for reconstruction. The army is equipping aeroplanes with skis to enable tn;:n to land in the snow with medical and other urgent relief. Large quantities of tents _ and clothing have been entrained for Hakodate. The authorities are preparing to ship building materia:*, and relief funds are being organised. Meanwhile. 50.000 people are shelterless and exposed to extreme cold and hunger. The origin of the (ire has oven determined, but the flames sprc-ai rapidlv. fanned by a 65 nine an hour gale. It was the greatest of Hakodate's 14 major fires s:r.ce 1870.