BURST DAM KILLS HUNDREDS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1928, Page 9

BURST DAM KILLS HUNDREDS

FLOOD OVERWHELMS SIX TOWNS DISASTER IN SOUTH CALIFORNIA - WALL OF WATER SWEEPS VALLEYS

Hundreds of lives were lost through the bursting of the St. Francis reservoir in the San Francisquito canyon. A great volume of water rushed through the valleys, overwhelming several towns and villages, and causing enormous damage. The wall of water descended without warning. Communication is practically eut off and the full extent of the tragedy is not yet known. One estimate puts the death soil at possibly 500.

BURST WITHOUT WARNING FLOODS TRAGIC RUSH TO SEA. WORKERS TRAPPED IN SLEEP. By Teleyraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. A. and N.Z. Vancouver, March 13. A message from Loa Angeles states that it is estimated 200 to 500 lives have been lost in the break of the St. Francis reservoir dam in the San Francisquito Canyon, 45 miles north of the town, to-day, which sent a wall of water pishing to the sea. The dam broke without warning owing to continued heavy rains, although it was first stated that be break was the result of an earthquake. The flood poured through several small settlements, wiping out citrus proves and small ranches and threatening the oil wells of southern California. The Edison plant immediately below the dam was destroyed and 75 workmen •re unaccounted for, besides the employees of the power plants. Reports from rescue workers at 10 o'clock stated that 100 houses had been carried away at the point where the flood waters entered the Santa Paula and Santa Clara rivers. At noon more than 125 bodies of men, women and children had been recovered. The toll is growing hourly. The dam, which was 185 feet high, Impounded 12,000 million gallons ot water, supplying Los Angeles. The flood swept through the valley while the inhabitants and workmen slept. The loss of property is enormous. COMMUNICATION CUT OFF. THE FULL STORY NOT YET TOLD. A and N.Z. New York, March 13. Los Angeles messages state that seven towns and cities in the 60 miles’ path of the flood through the Santa Clara valley to the sea are feared to have been wiped out. All communications are cut off. The dam collapsed under the pressure of the water from a cloud-burst high In the Sierras. A vast volume of water swept into the valley. The towns most severely damaged are Newhall, Filmore, Sangus Pieru, Santa Paula, Saticey, Castiac, Oburg and Camaraillo. The city of Ventura, on the coast, reports that the Santa Clara River became a torrent 50 feet deep and two miles wide and wrecked many homes. Animals and debris were carried on the erest of the flood and railroads and bridges were swept away.

The death roll of the flood in the Santa Clara River valley is mounting hourly. The rescuers are struggling frantically to penetrate the area piled with wreckage and debris. At present a check of the death list indicates that the total may go well beyond 200. An unconfirmed report states that 194 bodies have been recovered. The fate of more than 400 families in the vicinity of Newhall, in the direct path of the water, is unknown. A colony of over 100 employees of the Los Angeles Power Company is believed to be trapped between the canyon walls. Western seismographs show no earthquake which could have caused- the flood. The flood water is reaching the sea. Rescue workers and the Red Cross are moving into the valley as the water recedes. Near the Pacific people are still fleeing to the hills before the flood. Communications by the highways and other means of transportation are obliterated. Three thousand persons are left homeless.

The reports from the rescuers are most fragmentary. At Monta Lavo, on the sea, bodies are beginning to appear in the water, which is washing them from other sections. At Santa Paula bodies are said to be recovered as fast as the ambulances can take them away. The gas supply line to Los Angeles snapped and much petroleum was lost when the oil lines were torn up. Great damage was done to the walnut and citrus orchards, which were torn up by the roots over a great area. Mr. Edward Hyatt, State engineer, states that the dam which spanned the San Francisquito Canyon was in perfect condition when it was last inspected, and says it does not seem likely it could have been dynamited by disgruntled farmers. Received March 14, 9.5 p.m. A. and N.Z. New York, March 13.

News from Los Angeles states that 274 bodies have been recovered. The list of unidentified is growing hourly.

The first official announcement of the cause of the collapse of the dam states that it is believed that the water saturated the ground on either side of the structure and weakened the support. Reports regarding an earthquake and dynamiting are discredited. All that remains of the dam as noted by an aeroplane is a single block of concrete in the centre of the valley. Most damage was done at Santa Paula, where 75 are known to be dead. These were unable to escape after the notice given by the police sirens, which allowed many in other towns to reach the hills before the flood came down.

Many of the bodies now in the mor goes are those of children.