DRAMATIC COLLAPSE

Northern Advocate, 11 October 1928, Page 5

DRAMATIC COLLAPSE

SEVEN-STORIED BUILDING HUNDRED PEOPLE CRUSHED. VICTIMS’ ANGUISHED SHRIEKS (Australian Press Association.) (Received 3.45 p.m.) PRAGUE, October 9.

A seven-storied iron and concrete building, which was being constructed in one of the most frequented thoroughfares, collapsed during the after noon.

Out of 87 workmen engaged thereon HO are still missing, also 20 passersby. They are believed to be beneath the ruins.

Thus far 12 dead and 16 seriously injured have been recovered from the debris.

Two thousand soldiers, in addition to the whole force of fire brigades, are feverishly working to reach those imprisoned in the building. The cries of the injured can be heard continuously. The missing include the architect of the building, which was on the point -of completion. The head and limbs were found of a woman who was wheeling a perambulator when the building collapsed, but there are no signs of the baby. The President closed the Senate, Which was sitting when the news was made known.

The Mayor has ordered that all new buildings in Prague be inspected within 24 hours.

Rescuers were working among, the ruins all night with the aid of searchlights. It is feared that the death roll Will be heavy. A well-dressed girl was crushed flat on the pavements beneath a massive concrete pillar, every bone in her body being broken. The collapse of the structure is attributed to inferior material.

A later message states that the ar chitect committed suicide.

UNDERGROUND * RESCUES,

TWENTY-SIX STILL MISSING,

(Australian Press Association.) (Received 3 p.m.) PRAGUE; October 10. Twenty-five killed and 36 injured have already been recovered from the collapsed building, while 26 are still missing. Some wore rescued by means of tunnels dug out from neighbouring cellars. Thirty soldiers were injured in rescue operations.