September 14, 1906 Earthquake: New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Reference #414:1906, Sept 14, 16:04.3 UTC [Sept 14 01:30 local time]. 7 S, 149 E, magnitude 8.1. There was an earthquake near the Huon Peninsula. It was registered over the globe. It began with light oscillations, which rapidly intensified and lasted a minute. The main earthquake was followed by weaker shocks, occurring at intervals of a few minutes. It was especially strong in the coastal mountains from Cape Hardenberghuk in the north to the Lugaueng Mountains in the south and for 20 km inland, and also on the W coast of New Britain. Here, frequent yawning cracks opened up everywhere in the ground; numerous and extensive slumps, landslides and rock falls occurred, which changed the appearance of the locale from [Cape?] Festunghuk to [Mount?] Sattelberg, and especially in the valley of the Bussim River. Several (from 10 -20 to 100) local inhabitants were buried. Their custom of settling on the steep slopes as being the safest places in the frequent sudden attacks by their enemies, contributed to the fatalities.

All channels were buried under piles of earth for weeks. Torrential rains washed them out, and an enormous amount of forest was carried out to sea. The force of tremors was 9 degrees at Wareo, all the structures here suffered serious destruction, and a just completed home was ripped from its piles and shifted 90 cm; all the stoves were destroyed, and reservoirs filled with water were torn from their foundations and flattened. The tremors had a force of 10 degrees at Sattelberg and Lugaueng. At Sattelberg, a very old home with weak foundations was torn from its piles and displaced 2 m, and the church sank so much to one side that it had to be pulled down. At Lugaueng, trees were broken. The oscillations were only a little weaker in the region of Finschhafen bay. On Madang Island, two old dilapidated homes were ripped from rotten piles and displaced 1-2 m. At Pola, objects fell to the ground in the homes, palm trees were bent to the ground, and people were unable to move. Similar effects - collapse of stoves, the tilting of homes, the falling of cupboards and shelves - were reported from all coastal points.

The pleistoseismic zone of the earthquake extended from Cape King William to Cape Cretin; on land, its boundary passed between Sattelberg and Nanson Mountain. Changes in relief occurred on the W coast of New Britain; a landslide was seen on the slopes of Mount Hunstein which destroyed the underlying village.

At Bulesoma, Deinzerhoe and on Cape Arcona, the force of tremors was 5 degrees. A landslide was reported at the mouth of the Markham River between Cape Arcona and Huon Gulf (the Preusen Reede). On Tami Island, the tremors had a force of about 4 degrees, while they were weaker on the Siassi Islands and Umboi Island. At the same time, the earthquake was strong in Astrolabe Bay and was noticed at Potsdamhafen.

Tidal waves were observed along the entire coast from Heldsbuch on the north to Busega in Huon Gulf, and also on the islands of Tami, Siassi and Umboi.

Reference #79:1906, Sept 14, 16:04 UTC. 7 S 149 E, Dampier Strait, magnitude 8.1 MS. New Guinea: Huon Peninsula and Gulf Finschafen 1.5 m, Tami, Siassi and Rooke Islands. New Britain, W. Coast. Widespread destruction. Oscillations continued until 10:00 [local time].

Reference #9910:1906, Sept 14, 16:04:18 UTC. 7 S, 149 E, 8 Mw P&S, 7.5 Ms AN2, 7.8 mB ABE1, 8.1 UK G&R, 8.4 UK PAS.

Reference #1092:1906, Sept 14, 16:04.3 UTC. 0.7 S, 149 E, magnitude 8.1 MS, 7.8 mb.

Reference #88:1906, Sept 14, 16:04:18 UTC. 7 S, 149 E, shallow depth, magnitude 8.4 MS.

Reference #130:1906, Sept 14, 16:04.3 UTC. 7 S, 149 E, magnitude 8.1 MS.

Reference #1002:1906, Sept 14. New Britain, magnitude 8.4 MS.