-
- UPDATE
- 11-27-99
-
- MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A powerful
earthquake followed by a tsunami struck the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu
early on Saturday, killing up to 12 people and heavily damaging a church
and other buildings.
-
- A Vanuatu Disaster Management Office spokesman said
six people had died when the church collapsed on central Pentecost Island.
-
- Six people were also washed out to sea after the tsunami,
a swift-travelling sea wave caused by the quake, hit the southern coast.
One of those bodies was recovered.
-
- Further information on the deaths and the extent of
the damage was expected after a team sent by helicopter to the island
reported back later on Saturday.
-
- ``At the moment it is 12 (deaths), but it is not confirmed,``
the disaster management office spokesman said. ``We are still trying to
confirm all the information from various sources on the island.``
-
- The earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale according
to the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden Colorado, and
7.3 according to the French Earth Sciences Observatory.
-
- Vanuatu Catholic Church administrator Father Celestine
Tari told Reuters the quake had damaged the largest Catholic church in
Vanuatu at Melsisi mission station on Pentecost island`s west coast.
-
- ``I believe it is one of the strongest buildings. It
seems that many buildings have been broken down,`` he about. ``In the area
where the Catholic mission is, the damage is extensive.``
-
- Tari said a nurse at the hospital in Melsisi had reported
that the Pentecost islanders feared more earthquakes.
-
- ``He said that since last night nobody sleeps. They
are living in fear at this time,`` he said.
-
- The earthquake was followed within half an hour by a
Tsunami that swept ashore at Baie Martelie in the island`s south.
-
- Pentecost island, which has a population of about 12,000
and is about 63 km (22 miles) long and 12 km (7 miles) wide, was also
rocked by a series of aftershocks after the main quake, which was believed
to be one of the most severe recorded in the Vanuatu region.
-
- The quake`s epicenter was 90 km (54 miles) north of
the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila. It was also felt strongly on the islands
of Ambrym and Epi.
-
- Australian Geological Survey Organization seismologist
Ken Muirhead said there had been six aftershocks of greater than magnitude
five and many more of lesser magnitude.
-
- Vanuatu comprises about 80 islands, located northeast
of New Caledonia and northwest of Fiji.
- -----
-
-
- A strong undersea earthquake has sent a tsunami crashing
over parts of Pentecost Island, in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu, killing
at least five people
-
- Another four people are missing.
-
- Vanuatu's Disaster Management Office says the offshore
quake registered 7.3 on the Richter scale, the strongest on record in the
South Pacific region.
-
- The Disaster Management Office says this generated a
tidal wave which swept into two villages on Pentecost Island, which has
a population of about 12,000.
-
- It is confirmed that five people have been killed and
another four are missing. One body has been recovered so far.
-
- The Disaster Management Office says it is not known whether
there are other casualties, but it fears the death toll will rise.
-
- The office is trying to arrange a helicopter to make
an assessment of the full extent of the damage.
-
- Pentecost Island, one of Vanuatu's larger islands, is
famous for its land dives which are an ancient version of bungee jumping.
|
