A SHARP EARTHQUAKE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 31 December 1938, Page 9

A SHARP EARTHQUAKE

FELT OVER WIDE AREA YESTERDAY INTENSITY OF SEVEN ON SCALE iIIn i t«m PrHKB Association' WELLINGTON, 30th December. A sharp earthquake, felt over a wide area, from Manaia and Porangahau in the north to Nelson in the south, and reaching an intensity of seven on the Rossi-Forel scale at Dannevirke, three at Napier, and five at Wellington, occurred at about 2.20 o’clock this afternoon.

From general reports received by the Dominion Seismological Observatory at Wellington, the centre of the earthquake is located about 95 miles from Wellington, where it appears to have originated in Southern Hawkes Bay? a little to the east of the Tararua Range.

A message from Dannevirke states that the district, at 2.30 p.m. to-day, experienced an alarming earthquake varying in intensity at various places, and recording as high as seven on the Rossi-Forel scale.

The earthquake lasted about 40 seconds and was violent from the commencement.

People rushed into the streets. Some structural damage was done. The worst was an extensive crack across one corner of the frontage of the Dannevirke Power Board’s building. Chimneys are down in outlying districts, and there are fairly heavy losses in some households. Water tanks were also damaged. A Hastings message says that an earthquake of sufficient severity to damage buildings in the central portion i of the province was felt throughout Hawkes Bay this afternoon. From reports received to-night, it appeared to have its centre in Southern Hawkes Bay. Considerable damage has been done in Danevirke. Reports indicate that the shake was of greater severity and lasted longer than that felt on 15th December, when displays fell in the shops in Hastings and damage was caused in provincial towns. The Electric Power Board’s building at Danevirke, which was not affected by the 1931 earthquake, was extensively clacked in one corner of its frontage by the force of the ’quake to-day. No damage has been reported in Hastings and Napier, but the tremblings were of sufficient severity to make people run out of shops and their homes. At Hastings it was felt about 2.20 o clock, first as a slight swaying, which lasted several seconds, before developing into pronounced jolting. A Wanganui message stated that a I severe earthquake, lasting several sec-I onds, was felt at 2.22 p.m. to-day. ! A heavy earthquake with a pro-1 nounced swaying motion was lelt at Marton this afternoon at 2.22 o’clock. General alarm was caused, but no damage has been reported thus far.