Opened Up

When The

Ground

During September, the Wewak area was rocked by five large earthquakes and hundreds of minor earth tremors.

In the worst 'quake (measured on a seismograph machine at force seven), at the end of the month,

damage was widespread—though

no lives were lost.

Cracks three inches wide ap peared on the Wewak-Maprik road (see picture at left), scores of water tanks split and shelves in stores crashed to the floor (at Wirui, the mission store reported damage estimated at $1,000).

Several native houses collapsed (top); so did a brick wall at the new Public Works Department.

The Wewak hospital admitted several people with minor injuries.

According to the observer in charge of the Port Moresby geo physical observatory, Dr. D. Den ham, the number of earthquakes in the Wewak region in September was far greater than the average of the past 10 years.— P NG official pictures.