FLOODS IN RHINE VALLEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 11

FLOODS IN RHINE VALLEY

HUGE AREA INVOLVED. MANY VILLAGES INUNDATED SHELTERLESS REFUGEES. NUMEROUS LIVES LOST. SWISS AND AUSTRIANS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. 'Received September 27. 7.30 p.m.) Times. LONDON, Sept. 26. The Geneva correspondent of the Times says reports of disastrous floods are being received from all directions and are creating the greatest uneasiness. There is a gap 1000 ft. wide in one dam through which the Rhine is overflowing. The villages throughout an enormous area are submerged. Many people are missing, including a squad of fire brigadesmen, who were sent out to assist isolated settlers.

The level of Lake Constance has risen 15ft. The Government of Liechenstein, on the border of Switzerland and Austria, has appealed for help and troops have been sent from Switzerland. Almost all the services on the branch railways in Carinthia and the Tyrol, Austria, have ceased owing to the destruction of bridges. It is feared there have been numerous cases of drowning. Eight members of one family took refuge on the roof of their house, which suddenly collapsed and all were lost. A wind like a hurricane blew throughout last night while the floods were at their highest. Those who were fortunate enough to escape spent the night on the hills without shelter. The Rhine Valley is inundated for a distance of 100 miles. FURTHER DISASTERS. STORMS AND CLOUDBURSTS. SHOCKING TRAIN TRAGEDY. (Received September 27, 9.58 p.m.) A. and N.Z. GENEVA, Sept. 27. Violent storms and cloudbursts have caused from 50 to 60 deaths and widespread damage in Switzerland and the Tyrolese Alps. A bridge over the swollen River Eisack, in the Austrian Tyrol, collapsed while a train was passing across it and 25 workmen and two children were trapped in the submerged coaches and drowned.