An afternoon like any other, quiet peaceful and pleasant, balmy tropical climate, scent of frangipanni everywhere, hibiscus flowers bright in the sun. We were enjoying a drink with our neighbors on the lawn, stubbie bottle with foam protector so the brown liquid didn't get hot too quick, bottle of wine in an esky for the ladies, kids and dogs playing around, perfect harmony.1
Silence descended like a flash of lightning. No bird noises, dogs stationery, kids poised in their play. As if it was all on a DVD and someone hit the pause button on the remote. Within a minute it hit us. Earth tremor. The lawn shook like a jelly on a plate, the power poles swung in circles, the windows of the house rattled and we froze. 2
The sound came first; a distant train rushing toward us not getting louder, just closer every second. I can't remember the sound once the ground started to shake, an all pervading fear had taken control of me for about two minutes. No one was hurt, no damage to any of the houses, just that fear that something might happen.3
Two weeks earlier there had been a big quake and roads, bridges, houses had suffered major damage and destruction. A village of some 60 people had vanished under thousands of tons of rocks and dirt as a hilltop had been dumped on the village. There were no survivors.4
We were in an area where two continental plates met and earth tremors were common. We should be used to them when the average was 230 tremors per week. No, I'm sorry to say, we were not used to them. This particular one was recorded as being 2.3 on the Richter scale but what made it memorable was that the solid ground on which I was resting moved like the mattress in a water bed.5
Can you imagine what that does to your personal security and sanity. The earth, that solid reliable stuff you walk on, drive your car, build your house on, is no more solid than a bowl of jelly. Our local chemist ran out of tranquiliser tablets. It seems Iwas not the only one petrified by the tremors. How could I get like that? I worked with civil engineering projects like roads and stormwater drainage and everything to do with the development of a new housing estate. I knew we had tremors, in my work I had to allow for them in the design and construction of what ever it was that I was working on. I had been there for a couple of years and had probably experienced a thousand of the damn things. But this was the first one I had ever felt where the ground seemed to be a liquid substance, instead of a solid one.6
If I never experience another earthquake in my life, I shall be most grateful. 7
Author notes
The town of Madang in Papua New Guinea- the year 1970. The big earthquake 7.8 on the Richter scale.
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Comments
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Nice work Bob,
This sounds like a pretty scary event. When I hear of things like this I think of the Bible event in Moses' day when the earth opened up and swollowed Ackan and his family for taking the accursed thing.
I have never had to experience an earthquake. I don't know how I would feel, but I can imagine it would be very scary. Earth isn't suppose to move like water.
This was very interesting to me, I like to read about lifes experiences and real happenings. Thanks, for the read.
beginning: 5, ending: 5.
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Hello Kris, I'm slow replying again. I lived in an earthquake prone area for four years and never ever got used to the ground under my feet shaking. The single most frightening experience in my life was every little tremor I felt. I have seen buildings demolished, rivers moved to a new course, and sections of road dropped vertically up to eight feet. I survived my four years but am so glad we do not experience any tremors at all where we are now. I thank you for your visit and comments, you're welcome anytime.
Bob
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Well Done
Your story brought back memory of two tremors I have experienced, both under 3.5 and under. The first one I was indoors, everything shook but it was fairly easy to deal with and I was more fascinated than frightened. The second some years later I was out of doors and literally felt "the earth move under my feet." Totally different reaction on the terror/fear scale. Even now remembering it, I can recall the absolute terror it filled me with.
Well this was good write, but I think I could have done without the reminder LOL.
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Thank you for dropping by and commenting. I am like you in that the tremors felt while indoors don't create that horrible fear that the earth moving under your feet does.
I was in one that registered 7.8 while indoors and although the damage was extensive, the fear was not a real problem.
As soon as it was light enough to see I went back inside with a shovel and garbage bin to pick up our crockery and glassware. A few plastic items were all that survived.
New Zealand is called "the Shaky Isles" because of its quakes. I wonder when the next big one will hit, and where?
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Pretty good
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I was scared out of my wits for a minute. But I have survived a lot more since then. thanks for your visit and comment.
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interesting & engaging, Well done.
beginning: 5, language: 4, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Many thanks Marta. There is always plenty of information circulated about big earthquakes but few say much about the little ones.
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Good story Bob. Earthquakes are common in the western Us as you probably know. My brother was in Seattle in the 60's when they had a big one ranging as far north as Alaska. Personally I've not had the experience did however, skirt the edge of a tornado once. An awesome experience.
Happy trails.
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I lived and worked in Madang in PNG for about 4 years and its a place that sits on a big and active fault line. earthquakes are common but I never really came to terms with them. In 1970 a 7.8 quake dropped a section a sealed road 8 feet lower that the rest of it. this section was about 250yards long and it just fell in a hole. The quake only lasted four seconds but seemed to be forever. The one i described here was more frightening because i was lying on the ground at the time, propped up on one elbow, and I could feel the ground shake like a damn jelly underneath me. Thank you for reading, my friend, and leaving your comment.
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