Floods in Sinai leave scores dead

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 17

Floods in Sinai leave scores dead

(N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) TEL AVIV, February 24. ~ Swirling flash-floods in the northern Sinai yesterday left scores of dead among the bedouin desert dwellers and millions of Israeli pounds in damage. Rescued bedouin, who were brought into the town of El Arish told Israeli Military Government officials they believed that more than 200 people had lost their lives.

The international Red Cross representative, Mr Edward Navarre, said that he estimated about 50 to 60 people had been drowned. The organisation rushed blankets, tents and medicines to the area.

Israeli Army helicopters plucked more than 500 of the nomadic tribesmen from their encampments as gushing waters turned huge areas of the northern desert region into small lakes. An Israeli official in El Arish, where rescue operations are being co-ordinated, | said that about 150 bedouin were missing. The exact figure will not be known for several days since entire families were believed to have been swept out to sea. The Defence Minister (Mr Shimon Peres) toured the area in a helicopter, accompanied by the Mayor of El Arish, Mr Yusuf Navi El-Bak.

The Mayor thanked the Israelis for their rescue work and for the supply of food, clothing and medicines being brought into the town where survivors are being housed in public buildings. Helicopter crews who took part in the rescue told Israeli officials in El Arish how they picked up by rope and ladder dozens of people clinging to debris. Dry wadis suddenly turned into raging rivers engulfing the sleeping bedouin in their

desert encampments in the] middle of the night. Many of the bedouin refused to leave!

I their livestock and were (moved out by force by their I kinsmen, the Israelis said.