Sixteen persons were drowned in various sections of Palestine during the three-day storm which has crippled all traffic in the country and caused heavy damages, it was officially announced today by the Palestine government.
The unofficial estimate of the number who lost their lives in the flood is much higher. Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, High Commissioner of Palestine, is leaving today for a tour of inspection of the flooded areas.
CENTRAL PALESTINE CUT OFF
The storm abated somewhat today, but the heavy rainfall is continuing. The entire central region of Palestine is still isolated from the rest of the country.
The torrential floods poured twenty-five million gallons of water into the Solomon Pools during the last twenty-four hours, it was announced here today. This equals three-quarters of the entire annual water supply of Jerusalem. It is from the Solomon Pools that Jerusalem gets its water supply.
DEAD ARE ARABS
The sixteen persons who were drowned are all Arabs. Thirteen lost their lives in Kalkilia, where many Arab houses were washed away by the flood. Three were drowned in Nablus, the all-Arab town, where water still is waist-high.
Rescue parties were busy in Nablus and in other flooded sections of the country. Railway communications were still suspended because the tracks between Haifa, Jaffa and Jerusalem were under water. The post-office department is working hard to restore telephone and telegraph service.
The extent of the damages caused by the flood can not at present be estimated, in view of the fact that certain sections of the country are still isolated.
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