Evening star., 1933-09-26
Plane Squadron Ordered to-
Scene-Fourteen Feet of
Water in Streets May
Block Relief Trains.
DEATH TOLL ESTIMATED
AT 200 TO 5000
Nearly Every Structure Reported
Destroyed or Unroofed-Thirty
or More Drown as Dam Collapses
in Cardenas-All Americans in
Area Believed Safe
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
MEXICO, D. F., September 60
Mexico's resources were modified
today to aid the storm stricken
and flooded city of Tampico,
where estimates placed the num-
Der of dead or injured as high as
5000 and thousands were left
homeless. Enormous property
damage was reported.
Two relief trains, carrying bat
talions of infantrymen to aid in
reconstruction work and food and
medical supplies, were en- route to
the oil port.
Parts of the city were under IA
feet of water and railroad tracks
in the area were flooded or
washed away, so it was prob
lematical when they could arrive.
A squadron of military airplanes
was ordered to leave at dawn.
Meanwhile, Tampico was virtually
isolated from the outside worId
along with its scenes of death arJ
destruction.
Three-Fourths of City Razed.
Although more than two days have
passed since the hurricane struck
q Tfc fIfyyv Ill
out communication facilities except
by means of wireless from ships 10
the harbor. Officials reported the
damage there and in other parts Of
the nation was catastrophe"
Gen. Eduardo Vascenselos, secretary
OF the interior, who planned to fly to
Tampico to direct relief work, said
the number OF dead cannot be stated
exactly" but the military chief of the
district reported by wireless that three
fourts OF Tampico was destroyed with
many victims.
Unofhclal reports set the death toll
at from 200 to 5000. Dispatches by
roundabout means said the wind. Of
lz5-mile- velocity, leveled the
Civil Hospital, railroad station and
customs house and that nearly every
structure was destroyed or unroofed.
1t was feared that hundreds had
been buried alive in the ruins. Flood
waters of the Panuco and Tamest
Rivers added their terrors to those of
the hurricane
Harbor Closed to Shipping.
Tampico was placed under martial
law. Its harbor was closed to Ship
ping. II airplaneS could not get
through to its flooded airport it was
believed days might elapse before re-
lief could reach the city. Today the
possibility of disease, it was thought
mere, might hold new dangers.
In the entire Tampico district, as far
west as IT'S miles, the storm spread
death and destruction The city of
Cardenas. in San Luis Potosi, reported
that at least 80 drowned as the result
OF the collapse of railroad dam.
1t was feared that many more had
been trapped by a sea of water and
mud which swept the city, destroying
many houses.
Two trains were reported to have
been completely covered by water be-
tween Tampico and Cardenas The
National Railways officials estimated
damage to their flooded or DESTROYED
Woperty would amount to Sl,000,000
or more
Crops suffered throughout the north
eastern and central parts of the coun-
try, where torrential rains fell until Mst
midnight
Oil Fields Hard Hit.
Heavy damage was done in the oil
fields, according to reports reaching
here by way of San Luis Potosi. A
number of refineries and other build
ings were wiped out
Throughout the rest of Mexico, heavy
losses were reported because of con-
tinuing rains.
Recent figures put Tampico's popu-
lation at 100000 It is in the state
of Tamaulipas and. located in a rich
and semi-tropical district, is considered
the most important port in Mexico. It
is on the left bank of the busy Panuco
Continued on Page 2, Column -