BIG EARTHQUAKE IN PACIFIC

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 September 1948, Page 5

BIG EARTHQUAKE IN PACIFIC

BETWEEN FIJI AND SAMOA Reed. 6 p.m. Suva, Sept. 9. Reports of an earthquake between Fiji and Samoa suggest that the site probably was Niuatoou, about half way between the two groups, and which erupted in September, 1946. This eruption was preceded by earthquakes. A big earthquake which occurred between Fiji and Samoa was recorded here bv the coast and geodetic survey, states a message from Honolulu. The first shock was recorded at 3.17 n.m. G.M.T. and shocks were continuing two hours later. The army said there was no danger, but the islands have been alerted because of a possible tidal wave.

An abnormally large earthquake, probably in the sea off the Tonga Group, was recorded at 3.14 a.m. today on the seismograph at the Dominion Observatory, Wellington. Mr. R. C. Hayes, of the observatory, placed the centre at a distance of about 1600 miles from New Zealand, probably in the Tonga Deep—a narrow trench lying nearly north and south-east of the Tongan Islands, where the sea is nearly five miles deep. The intensity of the earthquake was 72 on the instrumental magnitude scale, in which six is a minor destructive shock and 8i is the largest shock recorded.

Mr. Hayes said the seismograph continued to be disturbed for over four hours. Strong after-shocks were recorded at 4.2 a.m., 4.17 a.m. and 4.52 a.m.

A message received bv the observatory through the Meteorological Office states that the earthquake was felt in Niue Island, but no details were given of its intensity

The earthquake caused a tidal wave at Rarotonga, about 800 miles east of the Tongan Group, but no damage is reported there.

A message received today by the Island Territories Department from the resident Commissioner at Rarotonga, Mr. W. Tallby, reported a tidal wave there at 6.30 a.m., local time, or 5.10 a.m. New Zealand time. The sea receded beyond the end of the Avatiu wharf and to about the end of Avarua wharf, then surged back to about normal high tide level. This phenomenon occurred twice in seven minutes. Mr. Tailby’s message w as timed 8.00 a.m., New Zealand time, and at that hour the sea was still receding and resurging, but the movement was gradually diminishing and there was then only a slight disturbance.