EARTHQUAKE IN FIJI

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27148, 18 September 1953, Page 9

EARTHQUAKE IN FIJI

Death-Roll Now Eight (Rec. 9 p.m.) SUVA. September 17. Fiji’s earthquake and tidal wave death-roll rose to eight today with the report that two lives were lost when a wave swept over the picturesque Fijian village of Nakasaleka. in a remote corner of Kandavu Island. The village was totally destroyed. The people lost all their possessions when they fled for their lives to the hills. At Xaro. a nearby village, a wooden dispensary building was swept out to sea, together with a Fijian assistant medical practitioner’s house and all its contents. Relief supplies have arrived at Nakasaleka.

The'wave was 15ft high when It struck Nakasaleka Bay. It was preceded by a smaller wave, which gave most people adequate warning. This corner of Kandavu was the only area outside the south-pastern Viti Levu where casualties Or heavy damage occurred, A senior Government geologist said today there was no evidence of volcanic activity in the upheaval. After a further inspection of the earthquake rift in the harbour, it was stated that although the main rift lies roughly north and south. there"are others in a coral reef at right angles—running along the line of the reef. At one point, a .piece of the outer edge of the reef has broken off. The wreck which was flung up from the sea bed by the earthquake, is that of the hulk Woodburn, which several years ago broke away w\en being towed out to sea and sank outside the reef.

Official broadcasts at Suva are stressing the “Don’t panic” theme, as a result of a fresh crop of rumours following the discovery by aerial survey of an earthquake rift running from the barrier reef at the harbour entrance to the hills opposite Suva. A New Zealand expert on earthquakes will come to Fiji at the Government’s invitation to investigate the causes of the earthquake, which is not believed to be of volcanic origin. Early today, the bodies of William Wendt and bis young nephew were recovered from the harbour near the wharf area. They were drowned when their fishing punt was swamped by the tidal wave.

A launch party which escaped from the wave just before it hit Nukualau and Makaluva Islands in Lauthala Bay. eight miles from Suva, say it appeared to tower high over the coconut palms, forming a tremendous backdrop to the islands immediately after the first big earthquake.