DEVASTATING FLOOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 11

DEVASTATING FLOOD.

DISASTER IN ALGERIA. IRRIGATION DAM COLLAPSES. OVER 300 PEOPLE DROWNED. TEN THOUSAND FLEE TO HILLS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received November 29, 7.5 p.m.l A. and N.Z.-Sun. PARTS. Nov. 28. As a result of a devastating flood in Algeria the irrigation dam near the picturesque town of Perreganx collapsed and an underground river burst its bounds. Many houses in various towns have been wrecked by the flood waters. Aeroplanes are conveying succour to the homeless inhabitants. The trains are held up. The number of people drowned is believed to exceed 300. The promptness of the engineer ol the dam, M. Fergoud. in telephoning a warning to Pcrregaux that the dam was about to collapse, averted an appalling disaster. His message arrived 40 minutes before the catastrophe occurred, and the majority of the 10.000 inhabitants were enabled to rush to the hills, where a' present they are isolated and destitute. The flood engulfed trains am' twisted engines and bridges into fantastic shapes. Two Europeans were seen clinging to a treetop, but help was impossible and thev were overwhelmed. Rescuers are endeavouring to reach a marooned train, in which there are many starving children surrounded by the flood water.

Perrog.'iux' is a town which the French founded. It lies 40 miles south-oast of Oran, on the Habra River. The dam supplies water for irrigation purposes. The town is a railway centre of some importance. The country in the French area is largely a vast series of oases, with prolific groves of date-palms, olives, figs, vines, and tobacco, and a plantnamed diss, which is used for making paper. There are also many miucs ; and sheep are reared on a large scale. There are lines of railways covering over 2000 miles, and many excellent, roads.