Seismologist Warns Of Earthquake

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 14

Seismologist Warns Of Earthquake

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 10. The recurrence of a severe earthquake in Wellington similar to the one that struck the city in 1885 seems probable, according to world-famous seismologist. Professor C. F. Richter, inventor of the Richter scale.

Professor Richter, of California, said it was established that where earthquakes occurred in the past they would occur in the future. He arrived today for the international symposium on recent crustal movements and associated seismicity which will begin tomorrow.

There was still no reliable way to predict the occurrence of an earthquake and experts were studying methods to try to determine this, he said. Commenting on the number of tall buildings in Wellington, Professor Richter said that in California it was accepted that a 10-12 storey structure erected under correct supervision would survive a reasonably severe earthquake. Even a building up to 20 storeys was reasonably safe, provided workmanship was first-class, he said. Professor Richter said that New Zealand was moderately high as a general earthquake risk. But the incidence of risk was higher in Japan than anywhere else, although Indonesia possessed the highest

activity in the world, he said. His scale invention first drew general attention in 1952 and New Zealand was the first country outside the United States to adopt the system.