Earthquake

Morobe District, New Guinea, Severely Shaken

THE whole of the north-eastern section of the "New Guinea mainland was shaken by a severe earthquake early on Friday morning, May 13. The Morobe district suffered most from th,e shock.

Small tidal waves inundated the north ern end of Salamaua and the bulk stores of Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd., W. R. Car penter and Co. Ltd., N.G. Goldfields Ltd., and Vacuum Oil Co. Ltd. suffered con siderable damage. Numerous native houses collapsed and the natives fled in terror to the higher ground. Flood waters for a time cut off Salamaua from the aero drome. There was much minor damage, including the dislocation of telephone services. Numerous drums of petrol were swept by the tidal waves from the water front stores into the swamp. Boats and launches were stranded.

The Bulolo Co.’s hydro-electric power service, covering Wau, Bulolo and Edie Creek, was dislocated, and dredges were temporarily out of action.

Slips blocked the road between Wau and Edie Creek.

Big cracks opened in the ground at Lae, about 30 yards from the shore.

The main shock came at 1.45 a.m. and th,ere were numerous tremors during the succeeding day, but they gradually died away.

At 6.50 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, Mt.

Bagana, in Bougainville Is. (Northern Solomons) erupted strongly and dis charged huge quantities of dust and ashes. Kieta, some 50 miles away to the eastward, was enveloped in smoke and dust for several hours. The natives were terror-stricken, but no damage was re ported.