Great Havoc in Japan

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 223, 24 September 1934, Page 7

Great Havoc in Japan

Heavy Toll Taken by Typhoon

LOSS OF LIFE AT SEA IMPOSSIBLE TO GUESS United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. TOKIO, Sept. 22. The total damage as a result of Friday’s typhoon now exceeds 500,000,000 yen. It is revealed that the wind velocity at Osaka was 65 to 70 metres per second, compared with the world’s record of 54, while at the summit of Fuji it was estimated at 100 metres. Although other catastrophes have claimed more lives, none except the great Tokio earthquake in 1923 has wrought such havoc to national economy. The disaster has also set back the Army’s ambitious, munitions programme. Scores of factories turning out weapons and ammunition have been destroyed or damaged. Incomplete reports reaching the Home Ministry show that 1308 are dead, 5207 injured and 566 missing. These figures apply only to landward losses. It is impossible even to guess at the loss of life at sea. Official returns listed 5164 small craft, mostly fishing boats, as having been wrecked or missing. Many Dead and Injured THOUSANDS OF HOUSES INUNDATED BY TIDAL WAVE.

TOKIO, Sept. 21. Official information states that at Osaka, 1067, including 532 pupils, are dead; 3057 injured and ISO arc missing. Buildings totalling 2540, including schools and 554 factories, have been demolished and 1400 others partially wrecked. A tidal wave inundated 70,000 houses, drowning 60 persons and injuring 350. At Tokio four persons arc dead and thirty-nine were injured. One hundred and twenty-six buildings collapsed a d 4400 were inundated. At Kyoto 203, including 160 pupils, arc dead and 853, including 485 pupils were injured. ' Sixteen hundred and ten buildings, including thirty schools, collapsed; and 2475 buildings were partially wrecked. Priceless temples and shrines have been damaged. Several Big- Ships Driven Ashore PITIFUL SCENES IN SEARCH FOR MISSING CHILDREN. TOKIO, Sept. 21. The city of Osaka is paralysed, being without transport or newspapers. Electricity is also cut off. The loss is estimated at 235 million yen. The tidal wave exploded an ironworks’ furnace, killing and injuring 115. Scores of boats, including eight big ships, have been driven ashore by the gales, the ferocity of which overturned trains. The tidal wave also engulfed the leper colony and 200 persons are believed to have been drowned. The City of Okayama is completely inundated, with extraordinary casualties at the schools because the latter were mostly old wooden structures exposed in the middle of playgrounds to the full fury of tho gale, the crashing walls killing and maiming shrieking children. There were pitiful scenes. Parents were to be seen with lanterns searching the debris, laying white kimono clad forms before the home altars.

The flood is now receding from Osaka.