EARTHQUAKE AT SAMOA.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1917, Page 2

EARTHQUAKE AT SAMOA.

TOLDOIWED BY TIDAL WAVE. HOUSES WASHED AWAY. ' Further particulars regarding the earthquake and tidal wave experienced' in the fcamoan Group on Monday, June show that not since the great eriiption in Savail, 12 years ago, has there been an upheaval of so alarming a character. The earthquake occurred about half-past ti o'clock in the even'l-" . inhabitants of Apia and district, being accustomed to earthquakes, although startled, were not alarmed for the first few seconds. On this occasion, however, the succession of shocks became more severe. Buildings shook violently, iron roofs rattled, ornaments and crockery feli, and the ground rocked in the most alafnjing manner. It was evident that the disturbance was 110 ordinary one, and people hurriedly vacated their houses. Those in rooms above the ground level experienced a new sensation in the endeavor to negotiate flights of stairs, which oscillated violently. Tho, effect upon the nervous system of the inhabitants soon made itself apparent as the seconds went by and the tremors continued. Strong-nerved men stood dumb-founded, women and children screamed mid fainted, and natives wefts seen to pray. The shocks extended over a period of about two minutes. Fortunately most of the buildings were of only one storey and isolated, so that the damage done, though in the aggregate on an extensive scale, was not so heavy as it otherwise must have been. At the timd of writing no case of loss of life had been recorded.

Considerable anxiety was felt for the safety of the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the largest building in Samoa, but, having its foundation in a sandy subsoil it emerged very," little the worse. The Customs-house, a substantial two-storied building of concrete, was considerably damaged, a number of cracks having appeared in the walls, While the vel'aiidah on three sides was wrenched cleat of the building. Residences and stores suffered more or less severely, and much damage was caused by breakages. Man> subsidences occurred, one near cme of the principal stores measuring about 30ft square. In the mountains In the interior the earthquake reached its maximum proportions. Limited news received in Apia stated that the surface was agitated like the waves of the ocean, acres of trees were up-rooted aiul flung into gullies beneath, masses of rock were hurled down the mountain sides, and many -landslides took place. At Lefaga, a rocky point of considerable dimensions was dislodged and hurled into the sea.

The earthquake was followed by a tidal wave, the full force of which was experienced on the side of the island opposite to Apia. On the Aleipata coast the wave is described as sweeping in a white wall of foam. Although dead low water at the time, the wave swept over high-water mark and across the beach into adjacent native houses, carrying everything baton it. The

natives were seared almost to death, fitid fled into the bush to esca-pe the fury of the wave. At Lotofaga the wave swept through the native houses into the plantations at the rear. About two Chains of a solid cement ttall, a foot thick and three feet high was lifted bodily, and carried away, pieces over half a ton weight being shifted fully 30ft. Half the village was submerged | and many houses destroyed. At Savaii ■ the earthquake shook down the pinnacle ■of a church, and the succeeding tidal wave was of a most alarming character. A bridge was washed away and a number of native houses destroyed. A copra-house was caught by the wavo and carried a quarter of a mile down the coast. At Pago Pago many native houses were destroyed, and ( most of the inhabitants took to the hills. The Mormon church was Shaken down. News j of damage in other parts of the group was received.

At Haapai, in theTongan Group, the residents were disturbed at the appearance of a tidal wave in conjunction with several earthquake shocks of a specially severe nature. The sight of the sea receding from the reef created a very uncanny feeling, as it appeared to the onlookers on Lifuka Haapai as if the island were sinking below sea level and other reefs rising in its place. The wave was almost spent on reaching Haapai, and was only about 10ft high. The only damage resulting from' the tidal wave was the loss of several cutters and the flooding of several shops and dwellings.