JAPANESE FLOODS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27098, 22 July 1953, Page 9

JAPANESE FLOODS

464 Estimated Dead (N.Z. Pre«s Association— Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) TOKYO, July 21. The police estimated today that 464 people nad died in the Japanese floods, 2180 were missing and 1114 injured. They said 27,069 houses had been flooded, landslides had occurred at 2334 places, and dykes had been broken in 443 places. • United States Air Force planes flew over the flood-stricken areas this morning, dropping wooden crates packed with vitamised biscuits. An Air Force spokesman said the aircraft flew as low as 50 feet, and the crates were “just pushed out without a parachute.’’ Most of them were delivered under prearranged plans suggested by the Japanese authorities where the danger of starvation and disease was known to be great.

Dysentery broke out yesterday in the flooded areas south of Osaka on Japan’s main Honshu Island, and 14 cases were reported by this morning. In the midst of the/ inland sea of rainwater the greatest need was for drinking water, as most normal sources had been fouled, officials said. Japan’s Minister of Construction (Mr Totsuka), who inspected the area this morning, said the lack of preventive measures was to blame for the heavy deathroll and damage. “Reckless” spoliation of the forests after the war and inadequate reinforcement of the river banks - were among the direct causes. Money and goods for flood relief started pouring into Tokyo today. Among others, the Netherlands Ambassador (Mr J. O. Reuchlin) handed over a gift of £5OO.