DEATH ROLL 248

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1930, Page 7

DEATH ROLL 248

GERMAN MINE DISASTER

MANY OF 96 INJURED DYING

FIRST EXPLOSION IN PIT

DYNAMITE FOUND INTACT

ROOF FALLS ON RESCUERS

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Oct. 22.

The death roll in the Alsdorf mine dis. aster has reached 248 and of the 96 injured many are not expected to recover. The worst effects of the appalling explosion were experienced 1500 feet below the surface, where 89 were killed. Throughout the night rescue gangs cleared up the debris. They found the large dynamite stores intact, proving that the supposition that the explosion was caused by its ignition was baseless. Marks ori the doors of the galleries indicate that the explosion at first occurred in the pit itself and later progressed to the side galleries, smashing The air gates and giving access to fire damp. - , •

Many died of asphyxiation and others were drowned in the water which accumulated owing to the destruction of the pumps. ' Twenty-one rescuers were entombed by the fall of a roof in the colliery last night. The bodies recovered up to 1.3,0 this morning numbered 248.