Rescuers See Tragic Scenes

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30259, 11 October 1963, Page 15

Rescuers See Tragic Scenes

(N.Z -PA ..Reuter—Copyright) BELLUNO, October 10.

When morning fog cleared at about 8.30 a.m. today the area presented an “apocalyptic scene” with muddy flood waters swirling over houses and streets along the Piave river.

Italian Army rescue teams. Red Cross crews, and American planes and helicopters were mobilised into a massive relief army that converged on the area under the clear blue skies.

“We are not finding many injured,” said one official. “People either saved themselves—or died.” The first troops to reach toe scene heard cries for help from people trapped in mud and water, and more desperate cries from people searching fruitlessly for husbands wives, and children. Three towns—Cadissago. Rivalta, and Pirago, with a total population of 1500—were wiped out, an official said. Several other towns, including Castellano with 1000 inhabitants, were also hit by the flood waters. Their fate was not known. There has been no word from another village on the mountain overlooking the reservoir, and authorities fear it may have been swept away by the landslide before the earth mass poured into the reservoir.

Scores of injured were taken to hospitals at Belluno and Pieve di Cadore. All were suffering from severe shock.

Near Pajane and Soccher more than six miles from Longarone, two bodies were found that apparently had been carried there by the floodwater.

The body of a little boy about five years old was also found buried in mud.