TNAG-0313-FCO40-349-Reports-of-typhoons-and-storms-from-Hong-Kong-Typhoon-Rose---1976 — Page 84

K

THE

Cutting dated

TIMES

[1 8 AUG 1971

19

Hongkong death toll of 100 feared in Typhoon Rose

From Leo Goodstadt Hongkong, Aug 17

Hongkong today found itself the victim of one of the worst

natural disasters suffered by the

British colony since the war.

From 10 o'clock last night until dawn this morning Typhoon Rose roared directly across Hongkong with winds of more than 100 mph. At first casualties were thought to be light, with damage mainly con- fined to six ships which ran which aground, and one sampar capsized.

The extent of the disaster did not become known until reports were received from an offshore island, which had taken the full

brunt of the typhoon, that a vessel had capsized near by.

By noon the owners of the Fatshan, a passenger ferry ply- ing between Hongkong and the neighbouring Portuguese terri- tory of Macao, confirmed that a

crew of 75 was on board when moorings and rolled over after the ferry broke loose from its

being driven aground

Only four members of the crew have been picked up by a Royal Navy minesweeper. While others may have been rescued from the heavy seas. first reports from the scene said that the vessel was full of bodies.

Fifteen other people have been confirmed as killed by landslips,

falling electric cables, house col- flooding is so serious that rats have been driven out of the lapses, and drowning.

The casualties include 259

people injured, more than 80 of whom had to be taken to hos- pital, and 12 missing. The num-

ber made homeless is estimated at 1,500. The typhoon was fiercer than any to strike the colony since 1962, when almost 200 people were killed and 75,000 made homeless.

All over Hongkong, windows were shattered by the wind. The

streets are so littered with glass that public transport has been constantly held up by punctured tyres. Main roads have been blocked by fallen trees, and

sewers.

Honghong, Aug 17 --Mr Tâm Yan-sing, one of the four sur vivors from the Fatshan, said that the ferry was "knocked over" after she collided with other ships. "I saw the ship turn, sharply to the right and flip on Nearly all the crew its side. members were in the cabin al that time. I think they had little chance of survival", he said.

Another survivor said he saw

Captain I. L. Price, the Fatshan's

over-

British master, thrown board by the impact of the col- lision. Reuter.

Photograph, page 5

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51 18 AUG 1971

HKK !!/1