April 23, 1953 Earthquake: Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea

Reference #414:

1953, April 23, 16:24:22 UTC. 4.5 S, 153.3 E, magnitude 7.4. There was an earthquake in New Britain. Structures were damaged and fractures formed in the ground. There was a tsunami, which according to press reports, spread to the Hawaiian Islands.

Reference #45:

1953, April 23, 16:24:17 UTC. 4 S, 154 E, magnitude 7.5 MS. $13,000 damage at Rabaul.

Reference #88:

1953, April 23, 16:24:17 UTC. 4 S, 154 E, shallow depth, magnitude 7.5 MS.

Reference #99:

1953, April 24. The upheaval caused water to be sucked from Simpson harbour in which Rabaul nestles. It ebbed and flowed several times before the level became normal.

Reference #79:

1953, April 23, 16:24 UTC. 4 S, 154 E, magnitude 7.5 MS. Source area New Ireland, tsunami observation Indonesia?. Statement of damage in list of tsunamis published by Japan Meteorological Agency (Anon., 1961) is probably a mistake. There is no confirmation of anything except quake effects.

Reference #9333:

Big Quake in new Britain, Friday, April 24, 1953, Barrier Miner, New South Wales. Sydney: A severe earthquake centred in the middle of the island of New Britain, 2060 miles north of Sydney, was recorded today at the Riverview Observatory. Hawaii and other Pacific islands have been alerted to expect a tidal wave.

Reference #9332:

Quake Shakes Rabaul, April 25, 1953, The Mercury, Hobart, Tasmania. Canberra, Friday.--An earthquake described by U.S. seismologists as a "rip - snorter" occurred near Rabaul today, but no casualties resulted. Houses, tanks and power lines were damaged. There was no panic... Landslides brought trees to earth, smashing light and power lines and blocking roads. The epicentre of the upheaval was estimated within 30 miles and New Britain is still feeling reaction to a settling down somewhere under the sea. Water was sucked from Simpson Harbour, in which Rabaul nestles. It went and came back several times before the level became normal. An hour after the first shock at 2:30 a.m., water rose to an unusual height at Kokopo, beyond Blanche Bay, but quickly subsided.... It caused a tidal wave alert in Hawaii, but the warning water was later cancelled. Another tremor shook Rabaul Town at 10 a.m.

Reference #9910:

1953, April 23, 16:24:31.95 UTC, 4.402 S, 152.708 E, depth 35 km, 7.6 Mw P&S, 7.5 Ms ABE1, 7.2 mB ABE1, 7.5 UK B&D, 7.8 UK ISS.

Reference #10476:

1953, April 23, 16:24:33.99 UTC. 4.449 S, 152.868 E, depth 35 km, 7.38 Mw.