FLOODS IN EUROPE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10193, 4 January 1926, Page 5

FLOODS IN EUROPE

ALARMING POSITION IN FRANCE.

EIGHT THOUSAND HOUSES IN LIEGE UNDER WATER.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC MAY BE HELD. UP FOR MONTH.

NATIONAL DISASTER IN

BELGIUM

United Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received Jan. 3, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Jan. 2. Floods are extending to the provinces, some places being in an alarming condition. Several million francs damage was caused in the region ot Caen, Normandy. Tliousuuls of workmen are idle in the north and east owing to the necessity of closing factories.

AMSTERDAM, Jan, 2.

A dyke on the Meuse, near Cayck, collapsed, torrents of water rushing in on the eastern part of tho province of Bt'abant. The situation is critical. The King and several Ministers visited the inundated region. The Minister of Labor telegraphed 1 unemployment pay to the flooded districts. The possibility is being considered of requisitioning thousands of pumps throughout the country, and concentrating them on the flooded areas. Over eight thousand houses at Liege are under water. The Government is taking urgent measures to cope with the disaster.

Floods in the districts of the rivers Meuse, Waal, Rhine and Lek assumed the character of a great catastrophe. The railway dykes collapsed in several places and are threatening collapse in others. The damage is so serious that it may be a month before railway traffic can he resumed. Several villages are practically evacuated and the cattle have been transferred to the higher land. The authorities are working day and night to assist the population. A Hague message states that the Queen, the Prince Oonsoce and the president of the Dutch Red Cross Society left to ascertain! the damage by floods in the provinces of Gelderland and Limburg.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 2. The Belgian newspapers and Belgian lied Cross Society have opened funds in aid of the victims of the floods, which constitute a national disaster.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

FURNITURE SWIRLING DOWN THE RHINE.

LOSSES ESTIMATED AT MIL LIONS OF MARKS.

(Received Jan. 4. 12.10 n.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3

Floods are reported all over the Continent. The Rhine chronicled a record, 31} feet above normal. Water is in tlie third floor of some of the houses bordering- on the river. All traffic and business at the markets is suspended. Quantities of furniture and other wreckage are swirling down stream. Tho losses are estimated at millions of marks. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 3.

Their Majesties visited the inundated regions in a boat followed by a second boat load with foodstuffs foi distribution to tho population. Tiie whole region between the rivers Meuse and Waal is at present flooded. Military police are rescuing peasant families from attics and farm houses. Roads,. railways, and dykes are crowded with neople who fled from their homes, leaving all their property behind. The level of the Meuse and the Rhine has risen a further twenty inches during tho last twenty-four hours. The streets of Venlo are flooded forty inches. Utrecht is under water.—Reuter.

THAMES OVERFLOWS BANKS

BUNGALOWS CUT OFF,

(Received Jan. 3, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 2. Owing to widespread floods in England many football and hockey match • cs have been cancelled. The Thames overflowed its b .nks in several places, and is still rising. Many bungalows at Sunbury and Ohcrtscy were cut olt and boats are being employed to deliver goods.—Reuter.

WARWICK THROWN INTO DARKNESS.

MAIN ROAD IMPASSABLE,

(Received Jan. 4, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 3

The West of England and Wales are particularly affected by the floods. The rise in the Avon resulted in the putting out of action of the power station at Warwick, which,, _ owing to the absence of electric light) was thrown into darkness, while trams were brought to a standstill and business in the shops was hampered. The main roads are impassable. Several others rivers have overflowed their banks, and caused" extensive damage, especially to houses in lowlying districts. Monmouth, East Bristol, Cardiff and East Devon generally are still affected. —Reuter.