ISLAND NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 11 June 1919, Page 5

ISLAND NEWS.

TIDAL WAVES IN TONGAN

GROUP.

MUCH DAMAGE- DONE.

rpKEsaI'Ashociation.l

AUCKLAND, June 11, Tlio Talune brings further news of .the recent hurricane and tidal wave in the Tongam group. Th<s most seri<o<us damage was at Haapai. . There were three- distinct tidal,,.waves, the third going 483 feet inland, and sifflaSler waves followed;.i-ik>r./a period of twenty-four hours. Several small vessels were -wreckfed, and a Government lighter loaded with copra was washed to sea and wrecked on a reef six miles away, while another lighter was lost altogether. An American schooner, the Ott-elia F... J. Ord, which was loading timlier, had about 20,000 feet of her cargo washed away .

All tho Government premises on the beach were 'practically wiecked. At Nukualofa a store on tho beach v. as gutted. . ■ ■ ■ Two small Islands disappeared altogether. The estimated damage is £6000. No livca were lost. . !