52 Killed By Fall Of Concrete Roof

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30144, 30 May 1963, Page 13

52 Killed By Fall Of Concrete Roof

(H Z.P.A.-Reuler—Copyright)

LISBON, May 29.

Rescue workers today said 52 people had been killed by the fall of the 60-by-75-foot concrete roof of the Cais do Sodre railway station, which collapsed yesterday just after a packed seaside train pulled in. About 40 people were injured, many of them seriously.

The Government ordered an inquiry into the collapse of the year-old roof, and called off last night’s public meetings to celebrate the thirty-seventh anniversary of the accession U- power of Dr Antonio d’Oliviera Salazar, •he Portuguese Prime Minister

Witnesses told oi a noise uke a thunderstorm or an earthquake. A railway official. Joao Carlo* Carraca said part ot the edge of the roof collapsed first, and then the centre sagged and collapsed Hospital officials Mid die only known foreign casualties were Mr James Cotton, aged 75 of Bournemouth, and Mj Herbert Berry, aged 71. oi Liverpool, tourists from a cruise ship who escaped with bruises Mr Cotton, a retired clerk told how a simple platform inquiry saved Mr Berry and himself. 'le said they had beet visiting Lisbon from the liner. Iberia in which they were taking a Mediterranean cruise, and lecided to return to the quay by the afternoon train

They did not know the right platform. "I Mid. There are two uniformed officials there. We will go

and inquire.' And that saved our lives,” Mr Cotton said. "As we walked towards them I heard a shout and on turning round I saw the roof caving in into two parts. The next moment we heard a heavy tearing sound and we were knocked down. “Fortunately for us, one end of the collapsed roof rested on the last coach of die train standing in the station. This saved us from being crushed,” Mr Cotton said

Mr Berry, a retired engineer, said: “1 have never experienced such ,a narrow escape tn my life. 1 should say there were about 100 to 150 people in the station.” The British United Press said that Portuguese Army engineers searched all night under floodlights for more possible victims buried beneath the rubble. The section of roof that collapsed yesterday afternoon on the packed station weighed about lOtfO tons. The whole of Lisbon has gone into mourning for the victims of the tragedy Many people saved themselvee by dashing into empty trains standing at the platform when they saw the roof begin to collapse.