Situation Holds Critical In Transylvania, Eastern Hungary and Rumania—Damage is Widespread With Demoralization of Communication—Water Receding in Belgium, Holland, and Germany—Details of Suffering Slowly Reaching Big Centers
Paris, Jan. 4—(AP)—Transylvania, eastern Hungary and Rumania present the most critical situation in a Europe which is slowly emerging from one of the worst floods in its history.
The number of dead in these countries and the amount of damage inflicted probably will not be known for several days, perhaps weeks, on account of the demoralization of communications and the fact that vast areas of territory are likely to remain under water for some time. But is is certain that there will be a tremendous death toil and huge financial loss.
The swollen rivers and canals of Belgium and Holland are going down and German and Polish rivers also are receding; the situation in France remains at a standstill, but the rains there continue unabated.
Details of the suffering in Transylvania, Hungary and Rumania are slowly reaching Budapest and Bucharest. It is variously estimated that between 500 and 1000 persons have perished, while the loss in cattle and the damage to spring wheat and property is tremendous.
The majority of deaths occurred in isolated hamlets and on small farms where the residents had no warning of approaching danger. This makes the task of a close computation of casualties almost impossible. Many died of hunger or exposure as they waited to be rescued from their housetops or other vantage points.
Daily Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME, January 5, 1926