Bodies Sought In Hurricane Debris

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32072, 21 August 1969, Page 11

Bodies Sought In Hurricane Debris

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

GULFPORT (Mississippi), August 20.

The Governor of Mississippi (Mr John Bell Williams) said early today that the death toll from the hurricane “Camille,” might reach 500 to 1000.

Mr Williams said that many of the dead were buried in tons of debris which civil defence workers had not be able to search through. Civil defence officials estimated that the death toll might reach 200. Late last night it stood at 170. National guardsmen patrolled the streets to prevent looting from buildings smashed by hurricane "Camille." Vice-President Spiro Agnew will tour the area today. The storm struck the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sunday, turning the lovely resort areas- on the coast into piles of rubble. 200,000 Homeless Thousands were injured and some 200,000 people left homeless.

Looting broke out yesterday as vandals grabbed goods f-om stores and homes in Mississippi. Mr Williams declared partial martial law in the area and Mississippi National Guardsmen were called in to help the police. President Nixon declared Louisiana a disaster area yesterday. Mississippi was declared a disaster area on Monday. Both states will be entitled to at least slm in Federal aid.

Rescue workers said that their problem was mostly moving heavy wreckage to get at victims. They also complained of a lack of supplies. All roads were blocked and

bridges cut. The United States Air Force moved more than 300,0001 b of supplies to the area from Georgia. The three hardest-hit towns appeared to be Pass Christian,

! Biloxi and Gulfport—all in Mississippi. Most of the victims were in Pass Christian, between the Gulf of Mexico and Bay of St Louis. About 500 persons in Pass Christian were in a high school gymnasium when the storm struck. The building started to sway and they were ordered to flee.