EARTHQUAKE AND TIDAL WAVE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3138, 17 July 1917, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE AND TIDAL WAVE

: d ALARMING DISTURBANCES AT SAMOA. Br Telegraph—l'ress Association. Auckland, July 16. Particulars received of an earthquake and tidal wave in the Samoa Group ou. Juno 25 show that there were alarming tremors, extending over a period of two minutes. Buildings were violently shaken, and tho Customhouse, a conorete building, was considerably damaged. Residences and stores also suffered, but to a less extent. Many subsidences occurred, one ! near the principal storog being about 30ft. square. Tho earthquake reached the maximum' in the mountains of the interior. Tha i ground was agitated like the waves c£ tho ocean. Acres of trees were uprooted and masses of rock hurled down 'the mountain sides. A tidal wave followed, the full force of which was experienced on the sido opposite to Apia. It was aleo severely felt on. tho Alerpata coast, at Lolofaga, Savaii, and Pagopago. The tide was dead low, but the sea swept over the beach into tho adjacent native houses, carrying everything before it. 'The inhabitants fle<l terror-stricken to the hills. The Mormon Church at Pagopago was demolished. • N - Tho wave was almost spent on reaching Haapai, where it caused the loss of sev-l eral cutters and flooded shops and dwellings. '