DISASTER AT PRAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 11

DISASTER AT PRAGUE.

COLLAPSE OF BUILDING.

mm WORKERS MISSING. BURIED BENEATH RUINS. PASSERS-BY OVERTAKEN. FRANTIC RESCUE EFFORTS Australian and N.Z. Press Association.• (Received October 10. 11.35 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 10. A message from Prague, tho capital of Czccho-Slovakia, describes a tragic disaster. A seven-storeyed iron and concrete building which was being constructed in one of tho most frequented thoroughfares of the city collapsed yesterday afternoon. Of the 87 workmen who were engaged on tho structure 60 aro still missing. Also 20 pcoplo who wore passing at tho time arc believed to be beneath the ruins. It is feared that the final death roll will be heavy. Up to the present 12 dead and 16 seriously injured persons have been taken from tho debris. Two thousand soldiers and all tho fire-brigadesmen in the city are feverishly working to rescuo tho imprisoned victims, whoso cries are continuously heard. > Iho dead include the architect of the building, which was on tho point of completion Tho head and limbs of a woman who had been wheeling a perambulator when tho collapse occurred wore found, but there were no signs of her baby.

The President of the Senate closed the sitting on hearing tho news. Tho Mayor has ordered all tho new buildings in Prague to bo inspected within 24 hours. Iho rescuers wero working all night with tho aid of searchlights. A welldressed girl was crushed to death beneath a massive concrete pillar. Tho collapse of tho building is attributed to inferior material. It transpires that tho architect committed suicide. u