FLOOD DISASTERS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 86, 6 January 1926, Page 9

FLOOD DISASTERS

MANY DISTRICTS IN FRANCE SUBMERGED OUTLOOK IN ENGLAND SERIOUS PITIABLE PLIGHT OF PEOPLE IN BELGIUM, HOLLAND AND GERMANY

Large areas in France are inundated by the floods driving many people from their homes and causing great damage. The outlook in England is serious, and more heavy rain is expected. Many people in Belgium, Holland and Germany are in pitiable plight, and rescue workers are at high pressure.

Bi- TELEGT.Arn.— PbEss Association. Copyright.

(Rcc. January 5, 8.25 p.m.) Paris, January 4.

Already the Oise has beaten all records, including the floods in 1910 and 1920, having risen twenty feet. The triangle between Creil, Beanvain and Noyon is a vast sheet of water. Trains on the main line to Belgium are obliged to slow down for many miles, while sometimes the floors of carriages are swamped. Villagers in the flooded areas are hurriedly evacuating their households. Goods are being transported on rafts. The flooding of the waterworks at Compiegne have resulted in a limited supply of drinking water, which is being rationed from barrels The rise in the.Aisne has flooded many streets in Soissons. A train between Caen and Saint Lo was abandoned after the passengers had been rescued. A child was killed and three persons injured as . the result of the collapse of a house in Caen. Some estimates of the damage put it at twenty' million francs. The rise in the Meuse converted the streets of Mezieres into rushing torrents. It is feared that twenty thousand workers in the Meuse Valiev will be rendered idle for three weeks in consequence of the flooding of factories.—Reuter. THAMES STILL RISING '• <MORE HEAVY RAIN I EXPECTED (Rcc. January 5, 8.25 p.m.) London, January 4. After a rise of nine inches during the night, the Thames to-day is still rising. Hundreds of acres of farm lands are submerged between Cleeve and Shiplake. A number of playing fields have disappeared, including parts of Eton. The rivers Rennet and Loddon have overrun their banks. The outlook Is serious. More heavy rain is expected from the Atlantic.—Reuter. LARGE AREA INUNDATED IN BELGIUM THOUSANDS OF HOUSES SUBMERGED Brussels, January 4. Their Majesties the King and Queen of Belgium to-day paid a long visit to the inundated regions around Namur and Dinant. The situation in the Liege, Namur, and Brussels districts has greatly improved, but the position in the lowlying districts, notably the Waes area, has become worse. Their Majesties sub-

scribed two million francs to the national fund for the victims of the floods, comprising money presented to them on the occasion of their silver wedding last year, plus a personal gift of a hundred thousand francs.—Reuter. (Rec January 5. 7.5 p.m.) Brussels, January 4. Nine thousand houses are submerged at Liege. The plight of the populace is becoming increasingly pitiable. Military rescuers and food distributors are working at full pressure.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SERIOUS RHINE FLOODS TRAGIC CONDITIONS IN COLOGNE (Rec. January 5, 7.5 p.m.) Berlin, January 4. The Rhine floods are serious. There have been great losses of live stock. The conditions in Cologne are tragic. Families are herded together in the upper rooms of schools. They are dependent on food brought bv boats. In the town there is complete darkness at night-time.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FLOOD WATERS FALLING IN HOLLAND HOMELESS PEOPLE IN BARRACKS (Rcc. January 5, 7.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, January 4. The water has fallen a yard below yesterday’s high level at Maastricht. Trains to Liege and the northern parts of Holland are running, but not for public traffic. Many homeless people are sheltered in military barracks. In view of the extent of the disaster it is remarkable that there have not been anv fatalities. —Reuter. WIDESPREAD FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND THREE MEN DROWNED . (Rec. January 5, 8.25 p.m.t) Brisbane, January 5. Heavy rains have caused widespread floods. Three men have been drowned in swollen creeks. Extensive damage has been done, but the waters are now subsiding.—Press Assn.