austraLasia
1549
Thank God for the
Tsunami that didn't happen - but, cause for
thought!
Nuku'alofa (Tonga): 4th May
-- The strongest earthquake to strike the South Pacific Region in many
years, measuring up to 8.1 on the Richter scale, struck about 150 kms off the
main island of Tonga, Tongatapu, about three hours ago. Initial fears were
that it could trigger a major Tsunami, the devastating effects of which would be
felt in Samoa, Fiji and the North Island of New Zealand.
At the point of writing, alerts for such an event
have been cancelled - geologists explain that (1) the warning buoys placed
strategically in the Pacific following the world's worst Tsunami 2004 in the
Indian ocean, have given no indication of major sea level change and (2)
knowledge of the region where the quake took place tells scientists that ocean
depth helps mitigate tsunami effects, by contrast with the situation of
shallower waters near Sumatra where the Indian Ocean Tsunami
began.
Inevitable questions will be raised however, by
people wondering about the location and circumstances of Salesian works in the
South Pacific in the event of a major Tsunami. The first question would be
to ask how they would survive the initial earthquake. Tremors are frequent
in this region - particularly between Tonga and Fiji, and both Fiji and Samoa
experience regular tremors - some barely felt, but not too many weeks go by
without one noticing glasses rattling in the cabinet or being woken at night by
movement of furniture - bed, chairs etc. Buildings constructed by the Salesians
in their 25 years in Samoa have been built with earthquakes and cyclones in
mind. Fr Hans Dopheide designed and built them to tough standards! Those
precautions have been tested by major quakes and cyclones over 25 years and have
come through well. Fiji's Salesian community is housed in one older
building (at least 70 years old) that has withstood any of these events so far -
more recently constructed buildings have been built according to acceptable
standards but are yet to be tested. They would be lucky to keep their roof
in a really devastating blow!
A Tsunami would mean
different things for different areas. Tonga would be in terrible
trouble! Its main island is completely flat. There are no Salesian
communities in Tonga, though there is one Tongan Salesian who resides in Fiji,
with his family in Tonga, obviously. The location of the Don Bosco House
community in Suva (Fiji) is entirely safe in terms of Tsunamis - it is far
inland, but villagers on low lying coastal areas would be unprepared. The
same could be said for Samoa. The largest parish in Samoa is in the hands
of the Salesians, and would be in dire straits if a tsunami were to hit that
part of the coast. Cyclones have destroyed earlier parish constructions
and high wave activity has eaten away large amounts of land near the presbytery,
in the past. It would stand little chance in the event of a Tsunami.
The two other main locations are well inland or on high ground and would not be
affected.
New Zealand has no Salesian communities.
It is probably well-equipped, as a first world nation, to deal with most
eventualities. But for the islands....the early warning systems are in
place, but distances between islands are relatively short and had the 4.30 a.m.
earthquake today (4th May in Tonga-Fiji and 3rd May in Samoa - the dateline runs
between them) generated a tsunami, 6.30 a.m. in Fiji would have found coastal
dwellers totally unprepared and awash! We can be grateful this time
around.
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