AVALANCHES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 29 December 1923, Page 7

AVALANCHES

SNOWSTORMS IN SWITZERLAND

LIVES LOST AND PROPERTY

DAMAGED

8T OABLB—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COJTSIGHtf

GENEVA, Dec. 26. Smowstorms are paralysing the social life in many districts of Switzerland. The worst avalanches for years are sweeping the mountain sides,' causing widespread damage and dislocating the train services.

An avalanche entered an hotel at Bellevue Adelboden, filling the rooms with snow to the ceilings. Another entered a chalet at Sepey, killing a married couple, who were found frozen to death as they stood wrapped in bedclothes, which they snatched to cover them while awaiting their fate.

A young shepherd sheltering in a chalet at Meizingen was buried alive through the walls and roof falling in. "Nine. others were killed at a chalet in Beaufort Surd Oron.

The Paris-Berne express, -with many English tourists, was blocked by enow for several hours at the railway mouth of the St. Gothard tunnel, which was impassable.