2013-02-06 18:36:02

Solomon Islands hit by tsunami


(Vatican Radio) A powerful earthquake off the Solomon Islands on Wednesday generated a tsunami of up to 1.5 meters that damaged homes and left several people missing and presumed dead in the South Pacific island chain.
Local rescue teams are searching for victims and survivors of the tsunami. The nearly five foot waves hit the western side of Santa Cruz island, sweeping over dozens of homes and properties in four villages along the coast. Two villages suffered severe damage. Disaster officials struggled to reach the remote area after the tsunami flooded the airstrip at the nearest airport, littering it with debris. Thankfully, many people heeded tsunami warnings and headed to higher ground after a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck near the town of Lata, on Santa Cruz in the easternmost province in the Solomons.

More than 50 people were killed and thousands lost their homes in April 2007 when a magnitude-8.1 quake hit the western Solomon Islands, sending waves crashing into coastal villages.

The Solomons comprise more than 200 islands with a population of about a half a million people. 90 percent of the world's quakes occur in this volcanic zone. Listen to this report by Tracey McClure RealAudioMP3








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