FLOODS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 28 June 1926, Page 5

FLOODS

A MEXICAN CITY SWEPT

A THOUSAND DEATHS

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) N.Z. Cable Association.)

MEXICO CITY. June 26,

Floods swept the city of Leon, in the State of Guannjiiato from the river (lonmti. The death list is expected to reach 1000.

Half of the city is destroyed. So far 387 bodies have been recovered. Twenty thousand mud houses were destroved.

Relief workers who are searching the ruins declare that many other bodies are still buried in the mud and many more are likely never to be recognised because the victims were swept downstream in a raging torrent. 'l’he water is now seven to ten feet deep in the lower section of the city. Entire families are buried. The property loss is estimated at 7.000.000 pesos! Federal troops have been ordered to proceed to the scene to lake up relief work.

THIRTEEN HUNDRED VICTIMS

SAN FRANCISCO, June 26.

A despatch received at Nogales (Arizona) on Saturday said it is estimated that the floods following the overflow of the Santiago River at Guanajuato, in the State of Mexico, claimed 1300 victims. All the bodies have been recovered. A fourth of the population is homeless an:l destitute. 'Phe property damage is estimated at 4,000.000 pesos.' The waters are receding. Torrential ’ 1 rains ! ' daring the last fortnight caused the"greatest floods in the history of ’he region. Unharvested crops were inundated .and the entire business blocks of Leon wove swept nwftv. .

' Lines of victim's are passing through liiiprevised Dumpies in attempts to identify missing relatives. Elicits to V: rig' food nnd medical suppli- s to the area are hampered by crippled rail facilities. Hunger is beginning to show its ravages.