EFFECTING A HASTY REPAIR TO A BREACHED DYKE I MEN BUILDING A WALL
OF SANDBAGS AT POORTVLIET, ON THE ISLAND OF THOLEN.
TYPICAL OF THE DISASTER WHICH HAS BEFALLEN HOLLAND OUDE TONGE, ON THE
ISLAND OF GOEREE-OVERFLAKKEE, SEEN FROM THE AIR.
FLOODS ENGULF THE DUTCH ISLANDS AERIAL VIEWS OF THE NETHERLANDS DISASTER.
At the time of writing, the number of the victims of the Netherlands floods
is still rising. The death-roll includes some -240 people at Oude Tonge, on the
island of Goeree-Overflakkee an aerial view of part of the submerged town is
shown above. The island of Tholen, views of which are also shown on this
page, has likewise suffered grievously. The western tip of the island has been
evacuated there is no electricity or drinking water. St. Philipsland, the near-by
island, has completely disappeared beneath the waters and there is grave
anxiety as to the fate of its 400 inhabitants. Rescue work is continuing every
where on an increasing scale. On February 5 it was announced that British
helicopters, operating over the flooded areas of western Holland, had rescued
about 600 people. General Ridgway, Supreme Commander of N.A.T.O. Forces
in Europe, flew over the flooded areas on February 5.
