Tongan quake worst ever

Mana (Auckland), 14 July 1977, Page 5

Tongan quake worst ever

There has never been such a natural disaster as on the. evening of June 28 in Tonga when an earthquake struck • the Island Kingdom, registering on the Reichter Scale at 7.2. The main force of the earthquake centred around the Capital, Nukualofa, spreading to eastern Tonga Tonga and covering another island of 'Eua. Landmarks such as the balcony of the Premiers’

Office, Vuna Wharf, part of the Centennial Church of the Wesleyan Church, Catholic Churches at Ma'ufanga. Ha'ateiho and the Agricultural College at 'Eua, Hangao, have all tumbled to the ground and are evidence of the demolition force of the earthquake Though they were the main evidence of the earthquake, there were residences in the Capital that were shattered at their foundations.

The New Zealand Government acted upon a telegram received from the Tongan Prime Minister requesting drugs, and approved the supply of $12,000 worth of drugs and chemicals to Tonga to replace stocks destroyed in last weeks’ earthquake. New Zealand has already provided Tonga with an expert earthquake-damage accessor.

An estimate cost of the Jamage by the Prime Minister’s Office of the earthquake in Tonga has amounted to the value of $1 million.