8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1982
RAINSTORM DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO FIVE
****
A 68-YEAR-OLD MAN, WHO WAS REPORTED TO HAVE FALLEN INTO A NULLAM IN TSUEN WAN ON MONDAY, WAS STILL MISSING TODAY WHILE RESCUE WORKERS FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING RECOVERED THE BODY OF A TWO-MONTH-OLD BOY.
THE BOY WAS REPORTED MISSING FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF A HUT AT LAI CHI KCK ON MONDAY.
THIS RAISED THE DEATH TOLL CAUSED BY THE RAINSTORM OVER THE LAST THREE DAYS TO FIVE.
THE OTHER FOUR VICTIMS WERE TWO GIRLS AND A WOMAN BURIED BY MUDSLIPS AT LAI CHI KOK ON MONDAY, AND A MAN REMOVED FROM A COLLAPSED STONE-AND-BRICK STRUCTURE ON TSING YI ISLAND YESTERDAY.
BY 4.30 PM TODAY, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAD REGISTERED A TOTAL OF 1 177 PEOPLE RENDERED HOMELESS SINCE THE START OF THE RAINSTORM ON MONDAY.
THEY WERE ALL OCCUPANTS OF SQUATTER HUTS OR VILLAGE-TYPE STONE STRUCTURES WHICH HAD COLLAPSED, BEEN FLOODED OR WERE IN DANGER OF BEING AFFECTED BY MUDSLIPS.
OF THESE PEOPLE, 698 ARE STAYING IN TEMPORARY SHELTERS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG, 43 IN HOUSING DEPARTMENT TRANSIT CENTRES, AND THE REST WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS.
THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION OPERATED 84 SHELTERS, 59 OF THEM IN URBAN AREAS AND 25 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, PROVIDING TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR ABOUT 480 PEOPLE.
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 584 REPORTS ON FLOODING, OF WHICH 321 CASES WERE CLEARED.
IT IS ALSO HANDLING 106 REPORTED LANDSLIPS AND 14 CASES OF ROAD BLOCKAGE.
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SO FAR RECEIVED 131 REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF AND APPROVED 106 OF THEM, WITH A TOTAL OF 350 000 RELIEF FUNDS TO BE PAID OUT TOMORROW.
THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PROCESSING 100 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM FISH-POND FARMERS.
19