FROM ’QUAKE AREA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 702, 29 June 1929, Page 13

FROM ’QUAKE AREA

MARINER’S IMPRESSIONS CHAOS IN WESTPORT From the scenes of the earthquake in Westport and Greyraouth, the Union Company’s collier Kaituna arrived at Auckland last evening, when members of the crew were able to give some idea of conditions at the two ports when the vessel left. Westport was described as being in a state of chaos. The residents were afraid to enter their homes at night for fear that they would collapse. Every fresh tremor was a source of panic, and at night the people gathered round fires in the streets. Greymoutli, on the other hand, bore little evidence of the ’quake apart from the hundreds of demolished chimneys. FELT TREMOR The men oil the Kaituna felt continual tremors during the vessel’s stay in port, and at every one which was more pronounced than usual,, the inhabitants rushed out into the streets for safety. A tremendous fall of stone had been caused in the Harbour Board’s quarry. When the Kaituna left Greymoutli tremors were afirly persistent. People with gas stoves were not so badly off, but those without them who had lost their chimneys had to cook in the open.