MEXICO: Woe

Rains. Over the Central Plateau of Mexico the rains descended and the floods arose, threatening inundation of Mexico City. Hundreds were rendered homeless; crops in large areas were ruined; railroads were washed out at many points; canals burst their banks; a bull ring almost collapsed; many houses were partially submerged.

Wave. But on the west coast, almost certainly due to the Pacific submarine earthquake (see JAPAN), a tidal wave, said to have been more than 1,000 miles long and of mountainous proportions in height, spread death and destruction.

There, as in Japan, wharves, jetties, ships, buildings were hurled landwards or smacked flat by mighty impact. Later the shattered remnants were sucked into the sea by the retreating water.