SERIES OF EARTH TREMORS FELT HERE YESTERDAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 8, 15 October 1948, Page 4

SERIES OF EARTH TREMORS FELT HERE YESTERDAY

9 Edgecumbe Gets Worst Of Shtxkes A series of earthquake jolts of varying severity at Edgecumbe and in the surrounding districts were responsible for disrupting the power supply in and around Whakatane yesterday morning. The tremors were felt at Whakatane, but much more lightly. Both Edgecumbe and Te Teko experienced minor tremors during Wednesday night, the first about 10.30 p.m., but the initial severe jolt came at 6.15 a.m. yesterday in the middle of a rain and wind storm.. That was followed by two minor shakes, at 6.20 and 6.25. Then, about 7.35, came .the one that.cut the power off. It had a lift and twist motion, and was of alarming violence at its climax. Two or three further minor tremors were felt about r \ss a.m. Power was off for about 15 minutes in the Borough, and longer in some of the outlying areas. So far as could be ascertained yesterday, there was no structural damage anywhere, though at Edgecumbe there was some damage to shop stocks and household goods shaken off shelves. To add to the general disturbance, the fire alarm set up a howl between the two big shakes. Strange thing was 1 that the shake seemed to have been more intense on one side of the railway line than the other. On the side where the hall is, there was more of a rocking motion, but at Hay and Rogers’ store, the same side of the township as the Hotel, the floor was strewn with things shaken from the shelves.' Mr D. G. Hawkins,' hairdresser, also suffered some loss of stock through breakages. The shake was only slight at Awaken, severe enough to be alarming but not to do any damage at Te Teko. • v