Belgian Canal Bursts Banks

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 173, 25 July 1939, Page 4

Belgian Canal Bursts Banks

LONDON, July 3. I With a roar like thunder, thousands of tons of water burst the banks of the newly-finished £15,000,000 Albert Canal —the 4 ‘pride of Belgium"—near Hasselt, on the German frontier, says the Brussels correspondent of the Daily bkctch. | The chief engineer, M. Louis Logan, was drowned, and at least 30 others are missing. The damage is estimated at £250,000. When tho break occurred M. Cogan was in a house on the bank with two assistants discussing plans for the opening ceremony, which was to have been performed on July 30 by King Leopold. His body was picked up more than 500 yards away. i More than 1000 inhabitants of the village of Godscheit fled from their homes.] Karly next morning police and sol- ;

diers were out in boats searching flooded fields over an area of many square . miles. | An eye-witness said:—"ln a few minutes basements were flooded and the inhabitants splashed away toward higher ground. Many of them were frantic as they searched for children and relatives. Tho water was rising so rapidly that everybody dreaded being overwhelmed within a few minutes." j Polico and rescue workers made frantic efforts to save cattle caught in the flood, which spread rapidly. Considerable damage was done to newly-built houses near the embankment. Cracks from 30ft, to 45ft. deep appeared in the banks and were rapidly widened into breaches from 75ft. to 120 ft. wide. At one point, both banks gave way over a length of about 500yds. | Electric cablo poles and mooring masts were carried away. | The canal w regarded as one of tho greatest engineering feats on the Con-

tinent. It can be converted into a firstclass line of defence in case of war. Suggestions of sabotage are being investigated. When a steel bridge over the canal collapsed mysteriously a year ago, sabotage was suspected.