For some time there have been rumours going around that a big earthquake is about to destroy the Morobe District. Lae is the capital of the Morobe District. This earthquake has been forecast by some American female medium appearing on American TV. There are many expat people who live in Morobe Districte who believe that and have booked their holidays and are leaving the region for Australia, but not us. Phil and I stay in Lae and take our chances. I can't imagine Dave allowing us to leave Lae just because some nutter forecasts an earthquake.
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It’s Saturday night and Phil and I go to the movies. When we return to the hostel I climb into bed and start reading my book, when suddenly the room starts shaking madly. OMG, the earthquake. It’s true, we’re going to die. Everyone jumps out of their beds and runs outside. The earth rumbles and shakes, fortunately not violently. It lasts for about five minutes, then everything is calm again. We go back to bed.
Next day, the newspaper’s front page reads, EARTHQUAKE – WE’RE ISOLATED. Apparently the Seacom cable that links Australia to Asia and Europe and passes trough Lae, was damaged by the earthquake. So this woman was partially right. There was an earthquake but it didn’t quite destroy the District, just a vital link.
We stay another few weeks in Lae and it’s been over three months since we’ve been away from Port Moresby, and we’re glad to be home, when we land at the airport in Port Moresby.
When was this? Can you put a hint or date into the text for us readers.
ReplyDeleteDiane
ReplyDeleteIt must be 1968 - all manners of things were happening in the Morobe District that year.
Colin
Yes, it was late in 1968. Lots of expats took early leave to go home to Australia for Christmas and New Year to avoid the predicted earthquake. Can't exactly remember the date but my guess now is between late November and Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bill. I can't recall that incident and it certainly was not related to the volcano scare that was to happen in Wau. That was well before November.
ReplyDeleteColin