EARTHQUAKE IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16512, 16 July 1917, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE IN SAMOA.

TIDAL WAVE FOLLOWS.

HOUSES WASHED AWAY.

Further particulars regarding the earthI quake and tidal wave experienced in the Samoan Group on Monday, June 25, show that not since the great eruption in Savaii, 12 years ago, has there been an upheaval of so alarming a character. The earthquake* occurred about half-past six o'clock in the evening, and the inhabitants of Apia and district, being accustomed to earthquakes, although startled, were not alarmed for the first few seconds. On this occasion, however, the succession of shocks became more severe. Buildings shook violently, iron roofs rattled, ornaments and crockery fell, and the ground rocked in the most alarming manner. It was evident that the disturbance was no ordinary one, and people hurriedly vacated their houses. Those in rooms above the ground level experienced a rew sensation in the endeavour to negotiate flights of stairs, which oscillated violently, The effect upon the nervous system of the inhabitants soon made itself apparent as the seconds went by and the tremors continued. Strong-nerved men stood dumbfounded, women and children screamed and fainted, and natives were seen to pray. The shocks extended over a period of about two minutes. Fortunately moat of the buildings were of only one storey and isolated, so that the damage done, though in the aggregate on an extensive scale, was not so heavy as it otherwise must have been. At the time of writing no case of loss of life had been recorded.

Considerable anxiety was felt for the safety of the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the largest building in Samoa, but, having its foundation in a sandy sub-soil, it emerged very little the worse. The Customs house, a substantial two-storeyed building of concrete, was considerably damaged, a number of cracks having appeared in the walls, while the verandah on three sides was wrenched clear of the building. Residences and stores suffered more or less severely, and much damage was caused by breakages. Many __ subsidences occurred, one near one of the principal stores measuring about 30ft square. In the mountains in the interior the earthquake reached its maximum proportions. Limited news received in Apia stated that the surface was agitated like the waves of the ocean, acres of trees were uprooted and flung into gullies beneath, masses of rock were hurled down the mountain sides, and many landslides took place. At Lefaga, a rocky point of considerable dimensions was dislodged and hurled into the sea. The earthquake was followed by a tidal wave, the full force of which was experienced on the side of the island opposite to Apia. On the Aleipata Coast the wave is described as sweeping in a white wall of foam. Although dead low water at the time the wave swept over high water mark and across the beach into adjacent native houses, carrying everything beforo it. The natives were scared almost to death and fed into the bush to escape, the fury of the wave. At Lotofaga, the wave swept through the native houses into the plantations at the rear. About two chains of a solid cement wall, a foot thick and three feet high, was, lifted bodily and carried away, pieces over half a, ton weight being shifted fully 30ft. Half the village was submerged and many houses destroyed. At Sfwaii the earthquake shook down the pinracle of a church and the succeeding tidal wave was of a most alarming character. A bridge was washed away and a number of native houses destroyed. A copra house was caught by the wave and carried a quarter of a mile down the coast. At Pago Pago many native houses were destroyed and most of the inhabitants took to th& hills. 1 The Mormon church was .shake?', down. News of damage in other parts of thegroup was received. At Haapai, in the Tongan Group, -the residents were disturbed at the appearance of a tidal wave in conjunction with several earthquake shocks of a specially severe nature. The sight of the sea receding from the reef created a very uncanny feeling, as it appeared to the onlookers on Idfuka, Haapai, as if the island sinking below sea level and other reefs rising in its place. The wave was almost spent on reaching haapai and was only about 10ft high. The only damage resulting from the tidal wave, was the loss of several cutters and the flooding of several shops and dwellings.