TERRIFIC STORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 5

TERRIFIC STORM.

HOLIDAY CAMPS DAMAGED. MANY TENTS TORN TO RIBBONS. A, terrific wind and rain storm passed over the border townships at Tweed Heads, New South Wales, late on the night of January 2 and caused widespread damage to hundreds of holiday camps on the beaches. Tents were levelled and blown to ribbons and the contents damaged by rain. Several families were left stranded on the beach without a particle of' dry clothes. Several women became panic stricken. The storm came up from a northerly direction with dramatic suddenness. Although it lasted only half an hour, 90 points of rain fell. Several campers endeavoured to hold down their tents, but they had no chance against the wind. The wooden stays holding the tents were lifted out of the ground. One tent was blown out of a camper’s hands and carried oyer two fences, finally crashing and damaging another tent. About 100 tents at Coolangattaand Tweed Heads are either damaged or torn to ribbons. Mr C. Dobson opened hia large garage at Coolangatta for the distressed campers. Several stayed up all night collecting their belongings. Luggage, clothing, and cooking utensils were strewn over the beach in all directions. A male camper lost all the money he had, £ll. and the rest of the campers took up a collection for him. At midnight camp fires were lighted with which to dry bedding and clothing. The brick chimney at the Pacifique Hotel, Tweed Heads, was demolished and part of the fence collapsed. At Coolangatta an electric light standard was blown on to an adjoining roof. The storm swept over Point Danger with great fury and caused extensive damage to several houses. The whole of the roof of one house was lifted on to ihc reserve at the top of the cliffs. Sheets of iron were carried over the cliffs to the rocks below, a distance of SO yards. Part of the roofing of another house was carried over the hill and landed on the beach at the mouth of the Tweed River—a distance of a quarter of a mile.’ Furniture was damaged by rain. Two other residences at Point. Danger had their roofs lifted off. Many of the campers have packed up what is left of their belongings and are making preparations for departing homewards. No one hag been reported injured. The telephone lines were blown down and the electric light service in parts of the town interfered with. At Coraki the storm was preceded by a terrific westerly wind, which lasted less than two minutes. Half of the balcony of the Club Hotel was unroofed, the veranda of a residence was lifted, and the Anglican parish hall wrecked completely. Fences were blown down, trees uprooted, telephone wires smashed, and outbuildings damaged. A man in ill-health was caught by the wind, which knocked him clown and rolled him along the street.