INKY BLACKNESS

Evening Star, Issue 21721, 16 May 1934, Page 9

INKY BLACKNESS

THE TIBERIAS CLOUDBURST HOUSES CRACK AND COLLAPSE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright JERUSALEM, May 15. The sky turned to inky blackness and then there was an unprecedented rainfall. Within a few minutes the narrow streets became raging water courses. Old houses cracked and collapsed. TWENTY-FOUR DEATHS. JERUSALEM, May 15. (Received May 16, at 11 a.m.) The Tiberias death roll is twentyfour, excluding those believed to have been swept out to the Sea of Galilee. It is also possible that casualties occurred during a second cloudburst following to-day’s funerals.. The victims were mostly infants and aged people who were surprised in the wrecked nouses crowded on the lakeside, where an Bft wall of water, laden with stones and sludge from the. hillsides, overwhelmed the buildings. The scene was chaotic, but order is slowly being restored.

OLD TOWN EVACUATED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 15. (Received May 16, at noon.) The second cloudburst within twentyfour hours occurred at Tiberias shortly after the funeral of yesterday’s victims. It lasted nearly half an hour, and old Tiberias was turned into a rushing river which carried away goods from houses and shops, and it is feared, caused further casualties, particularly among the children. ; The population of the old town was evacuated to. the higher suburbs. Telegraphing with regard to Monday’s cloudburst, the High Commissioner stated that nineteen bodies had been recovered and others were missing. Fifteen people were in hospital, and many were rendered homeless. Much of the salvage work, which was promptly undertaken, was apparently undone by to-day’s deluge. The Colonial Secretary has sent a telegram of sympathy.