Blown Skywards

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 14 June 1935, Page 8

Blown Skywards

GERMAN MUNITION WORKS Factory A Complete Wreck HEAVY TOLL ON WORKERS Broadcast of News Banned SCENE UNDER GUARD Tutted Press Association- By Electric Telegraph Copyright). Received 3 p.m. to-day. BERLIN, June 13. One of the worst disasters of Central Germany occurred when the munition factory at Reinsdorf blew skywards while working at full pressure. The death roll unofficially is estimated at 100. Twenty-two bodies were recovered and 373 were injured. Fire followed the first explosion at 3 p.m., causing others and levelling the entire works. Many neighbouring houses were demolished. The explosions shattered windows within a radius of many miles and the lire, which was 'burning for hours, prevented the extrication of the bodies of the victims killed. All available nurses and doctors were rushed to the scene and the local hospitals were soon overflowing with casualties. Schools were temporarily requisitioned and Storm troopers and the police formed .a cordon round the district, preventing hundreds of sightseers attracted from scores of miles away approaching the fires An announcement of the disaster was banned in Berlin till 10 p.m., the radio stations continuing to broadcast music as if nothing had happened. An official statement, describing the works as a fireworks factory, says that ten. bodies were recovered iand ‘ the death roll is fifty.