BUILDING FALLS ON BUSY STREET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 242, 12 October 1928, Page 7

BUILDING FALLS ON BUSY STREET

HEAVY DEATH-ROLL DISASTER ATTRIBUTED TO INFERIOR MATERIAL ■ By Telegraph—Per Press Awn.—Copyright ] £ Australian Pres* Assn. J PRAGUE, Oct. 9. A seven-storey iron and concrete building in the course of construction in one of the busiest thoroughfares collapsed this afternoon. Out of 87 workmen engaged 60 are still missing, as well as 20 passers-by. They are believed to be beneath the ruins. So far from 12 to 16 dead and many seriously injured have been recovered from the debris. Two thousand soldiers, in addition to the whole tire brigade, are feverishly working to reach the imprisoned people, whose cries are continuously heard The missing include the architect of the building, which was on the point of completion. The head and limbs were found of a woman who was wheeling a perambulator when the collapse occurred, but there are no signs of the baby. The President of the Senate closed the sitting on hearing the news, and the Mayor ordered all the new buildings in Prague to be inspected within 24 hours. Rescuers are working on the collapsed building all night with the aid of searchlights. It is feared the death roll will be heavy. A well-dressed girl was crushed flat on the pavement beneath a massive concrete pillar, every bone being broken. The failure is attributed to inferior material. The architect committed suicide. DEATHS TOTAL 32 MANY STILL ENTOMBED Received Oct. 11, 11.45 p.m. PRAGUE, Oct. 11. At midnight the dead totalled 32 and the condition of 12 of those rescued is regarded as hopeless. Thirty are still entombed. RIOTING DEVELOPS GOVERNMENT BLAMED. Received Oct. 12, 1 am. PRAGUE, Oct. 11. Public indignation against the Government for not supervising building construction and allegations that builders hurry their work under the system of tax rebates for early completion, have led to the principals of the contracting firm being arrested. Rioting followed the arrest, and 22 Communists haranged the crowds near the disaster, blaming the Government for inadequate control of builders.