EARTH TREMORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23047, 26 May 1938, Page 10

EARTH TREMORS

NEW GUINEA BOCKED DESTRUCTIVE TIDAL WAVES DAMAGE ON WATERFRONT EARLY MORNING VISITATION [from oub own correspondent] SYDNEY, May 20 The south-eastern seaboard of the mainland of New Guinea was rocked early this morning by severe earth tremors, wrote the Salamaua correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald on May 13. An accompanying series of tidal waves did considerable damage, but so far as is known, no lives were lost, and nobody was injured. Salamaua was the centre of the disturbance, the tidal waves inundated the waterfront road, damaging the concrete retaining wall and bulk stores owned by Burns, Philp and Company, Limited, W. R. Carpenter and Company, Limited, New Guinea Goldfields, Limited, and the Vacuum Oil Company. Customs sheds, on the waterfront were also damaged, and native houses collapsed. The first tremor occurred at 1.45 a.m. This was followed by three smaller tremors. Just before the disturbance the wind from the bay-side died down, and sprang up over Samoa Bay. Natives Stricken with Terror When the tremors subsided the 'waters of Samoa Bay started to recede. They then came back quickly in a series of small .tidal waves. At Kila the water was up to many of the houses, and the road from there to Salamaua was extensively damaged. At some parts of the isthmus the jwater rose to more than three feet. Many natives, remembering the Babaul eruption, were stricken with terror and made for Kila heights. The Shell Company's tanker Pinna, which was in port discharging benzine, was not damaged. For two hours the tide continued to rise and fall. At about 6 a.m., two more slight tremors occurred. Later, the town became calm, and the water fell back to its normal level. Many small boats and launches were washed up on to the road.

Residents on the Isthmus were told during the night by the native constabulary to be prepared to take to the hills, but there was no panic. Bulolo also Badly Shaken Severe earth tremors also shook Bulolo at 1.40 a.m. Houiies were shaken alarmingly for a few minutes, and people in their night attire scrambled out of doors and stood in drizzling rain. Trees and hedges shook uncannily. High tension wires swung dangerously, and the electric lighting failed. Dredges ■were out 'of action until the power was restored. , . , Natives ran from the compound into the jungle, some not returning until daylight. Every article of crockery was broken in one household. No serious damage was done to buildings. Light tremors continued at intervals until daylight.