The Delta independent., 1889-09-24
FLOODS IN JAPAN.
Over Ten Thousand Persons Said to
Have Lost Their Lives.
WHOLE DISTRICTS DEVASTATED.


stating that the province OF Xii, in the
southwestern part OF Japan, had been Wis
tied by disasters which have no parallel in
the history of the country. More than TO-
800 people have lost their lives and about
twenty towns have been swept of the
earth. During the early part Of August
| severe storms drenched the province, and
on the 18th gale, accompanied by heavy
| showers, broke over the place, swelling all
the streams beyond the strength Of the
embankments.
A few miles above the city OF Wakayama
the river kinoyawa broke through its
banks, and q torrent of water rushed over
the surrounding towns and fields, carrying
everything before it. Houses, bridges,
temples, trees and water soaked bodies
were piled together on the fields of grow
ing grain. About 200 houses were washed
completely away, and 800 more were
ruined beyond repair. Over 500 people
lost their lives and many hundreds were
seriously injured.
Further down the coast the disaster was
worse. At Goto and neighborhood more
than 500 houses were washed away, sOo
partly so, and ninety lives were lost. The
cmbankment Of the river Arita gave way
and about 5000 houses were wrecked and
800 destroyed. Other towns were left
without a whole building in them, and the
bodies OF women and children added to the
debris that covered the farms. In Wakay
anna alone 5000 people were left destitute.
Relief has been sent to them but all cannot
be reached and hundreds will die OF star
walton.
Latest advices from Wakayama state
that the number OF persons drowned in
Hygaxhi Mura, Nishi Mura. Arita and
Hitika reached nearly 10000. The damage
to property cannot be accurately computed,
but It Is placed ut about "a, 100000,
While floods were devastating the west
ern section Of the province OF Xii, the most
remarkable catastrophe, costing many
thousand lives and untold loss 70 property,
took place. The details published in the
Japan Gazette, which were obtained from
survivors, make remarkable narrative.
According TO their story an unusually
heavy rain commenced to fall at Totsu-
gawa and ncighborhood on August IS. BY
daybrcak next morning the various rivers
and rivulets were swollen. The people
along the side OF the river Amano antici-
pated = flood aud began TO make prepara-
tion according. They fed TO the mountain
side, and when gathered there, watching
the destruction in the valley below, the
huge peaks above them crumbled like an
undermined sand heap. The Tsuiido- -Mura
and Sakamoto- Mrrn were blocked by earth
from the mountain. The people escaped
for safety To Tempt, situated on the high.
est point in the cighborhood, and then, with.
out any warning, the mountain behind the
village gave way aud the whole village
was buried, an were also Nagaione, Asaki-
Umibayara, Tanisc and Hayashi Muras
and fifteen other villages alongside the
River Totsu. The inhabitants, numbering
not less than sOo, were killed. Uenochi,
Kodsu, Kawatsu and other villages were
also buried or washed away, but the mum.
Der of killed here has not yet been asccr-
taincd. II is also expected that large
number have been killed at Kaxcya, uchi-
hara, koikawa, Naziri, Yamasaka and
Taano Muras, which suffered damage
either by food or by the mountain slip.
Out OF the fifty FIVE villages in Totsu-
Cawa there is probably not more than one
that has not suffered damage. None of
the forests, rice fields or other cultivated
land escaped.
It is impossible yet to ascertain the cx-
act number of killed, but the local govern.
mcnt officials expect it will be something
like 5000. AT any rate it will not be less
than 5000.
Much suffering is also occasioncd hero
by lack Of food Relief has been rendered
but owing to tho condition Of the country
Il is impossible TO AFFORD necessary assist.
ance and hundreds must die from hunger
and thirst
These arc tho grcatcst disasters in tho
history Of southern Japan, and further par
ticulars will probably bring moro stories
OF suffering and dcsolation.