Mount Lamington erupts: sixty years on
18 January 2011
SOUTH PACIFIC POST
19 JANUARY 1951 - MOUNT LAMINGTON, eight miles from Higaturu, erupted at 11 o’clock yesterday morning.
The District Commissioner Mr C F Cowley, reports that there has been no loss of life, nor is there any immediate danger.
The last reported eruption in the Territory was in 1945, when a mountain near Collingwood Bay on the North-East Coast became active.
A stream of matter is running down the slopes of Lamington, but it is not known whether this is lava, water or a landslide. Black smoke is billowing from the northern side.
The Deputy Administrator Mr Justice Phillips will fly to Higaturu early today by Charter Aviation Service to inspect the affected area.
The Higaturu eruption was preceded by a number of slight earth tremors from 4 pm on Tuesday and 9 am on Wednesday.
A Government official who was in Higaturu on Tuesday and Wednesday last night described the earth tremors as “slight.” He said that he had noticed about 40. Others who were in the area say there were between 60 and 70 a day.
Mount Lamington, which is about 80 air miles from Port Moresby, rises up in a series of four sharp peaks which are known locally as the “Marx Brothers.” There are about 32 Europeans living in the area.
Assistant Government Secretary Claude Champion said last night, Mr Cowley would maintain emergency contact with Port Moresby through the DCA radio network.
Mr Champion said there are no native villages in the immediate vicinity of Lamington but that many lived around the foothills.
“This eruption may upset some natives,” he said, “and Mr Cowley may need to take steps to reassure them.
“In 1932 I tried to take a patrol into the mountain area but could not get a guide. Natives said Lamington was a ‘spirit mountain.’
“They said their forefathers had seen smoke billowing from the peaks. This, however, is the first known eruption of the mountain.”
Spotter: Anne Griffin
On Sunday 21 January 1951 Mt Lamington exploded, killing more than 3,500 Orokaivan people in 29 villages and 35 expatriates stationed at Martyrs' Memorial School, Sangara Anglican Mission and Higaturu Government Station.
The Orokaivans included policemen and medical orderlies who worked at Higaturu and prisoners who were serving their sentences there. The expatriates who lost their lives included District Commissioner Cowley, whose earlier report had been so reassuring:
I have some papers come into my possession that includes a presentation made by Mrs L.M. Stephens to the C.W.A. on 11/9/1963.
She was living at Sangara at the time of the eruption. She details how the District Commissioner's family was with them at the time of the eruption and their ordeals trying to get away.
It makes an interesting read.
Posted by: Stan Montgomery | 02 January 2016 at 09:54 PM
I was a six year old in Port Moresby when Mt Lamington erupted and still today, some 60 years on, I have vivid memories of three things.
First, the layer of ash on our back concrete area, it covered the whole of this area.
Secondly, I remember going down to the Port Moresby Freezer with Dad in his ute, to pick up fresh meat and take it out to Jackson's Airport to load onto aircraft to fly over to Popondetta.
Thirdly, viewing a photo of a jeep upside down at the top of a tree.
I saw Mt Lamington when I flew to Popondetta to play League in about 1964.
Posted by: Warren Turner | 12 June 2011 at 02:47 PM
The first trekkers to Mt Lamington from Kendata Village on 22 January were David Woiwod and his cameraman friend Aidan Boehm.
David's grandfather Bernie Woiwod who accompanied them to Kendata Village but did not do the walk is a brother of Kevin Woiwod who died at Higaturu on 21 January 1951. Kevin was employed there as a carpenter and building a new hospital.
David, Aidan and I resided in Hohorita Village for several days and attended the 60th Anniversary Memorial Service. Other relatives from Australia to attend the service were Tony and Kathleen Hirst, nephew and niece of Kevin Woiwod.
I congratulate Mt Lamington Trekking Ltd on opening the walk and the wonderful welcome and farewell they gave the first treckers. I am sure that there will be many more wanting to make the journey to such an historic mountain.
Posted by: Bernie Woiwod | 29 January 2011 at 10:43 PM
I am from Kendata Village - which is at the base of Mt Lamington. In fact, my clan are the traditional landowners of Mt Lamington.
I am currently working with my people to open up Mt Lamington for trekking to tourists. An integral component of making Lamington a valuable tourism product is its history and I would love to learn more about the eruptions of Mt Lamington from such articles.
Our first trekkers to Mt Lamington will the the descendants of then District Commissioner Mr F C Cowley.
They will climb to the summit tomorrow (22/01/11) before attending mass at Hohorita Village on Sunday to remember those who lost their lives on the 60th anniversary of the eruption of Mt Lamington.
Posted by: Colin Taimbari | 21 January 2011 at 08:52 AM