SHARP EARTHQUAKE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 176, 20 April 1940, Page 10

SHARP EARTHQUAKE

Manawatu, Wanganui And Hawke’s Bay Shaken ONLY SLIGHT SHOCK IN WELLINGTON A sharp earthquake, possibly centred in the Danuevirke district, which occurred at. 0.45 last evening, shook the whole of the Manawatu, Wanganui, and Hawke’s Bay areas. The shock was severe enough to break some shop windows in Danuevirke and cause fliinsily arranged displays of goods to collapse. Clocks were stopped iu several households in Palmerston North and at least one shop window display was scattered. As far as can be ascertained no structural damage occurred. Onlv a slight, though prolonged, shock,' was felt in Wellington. Observers in most centres where the shake was felt agree that it was preceded by an unusually long and pronounced roaring sound. In Danuevirke a loud rumbling and short vibrations were followed by two or three very sharp jolts of greater intensity than any experienced for some time.

The shock in Palmerston North was quite severe, and the rumbling which preceded it was unusually loud. After the preliminary tremor there was a pronounced upward movement, which quickly subsided, the shake ending with a swaying movement. The upward jolt was also felt in Feilding. The shake in Woodville was described as sharp and sudden, with an upward jolt, and preceded by an unusually loud rumble. The shake lasted about 45 seconds. Pahiatua reports a sudden jolt, followed by a long rolling motion.

Waipukurau, Waipawa and Porangahau report the shake as fairly severe, with a pronounced rolling motion which continued for nearly a minute, but no upward movement. An observer in Waipukurau described the shake as unusually noisy. The shake in Foxton and Shannon was described as steady, but fairly severe, with no uplift and preceded by a long rumble. It was not felt so severely in Levin. A prolonged shake in Wanganui caused some people to run from shops and houses. The tremor, was of a swaying motion. Three slight earthquake shocks were felt in Wanganui on Thursday morning. The first occurred at 7.45 a.m., and the last shortly after 8 o’clock.