A powerful earthquake has hit the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific causing a tsunami that was up to 1.5 meters high. It damaged dozens of homes and it is predicted that several people have been killed.
The Daily Mail reported that the earthquake was at 8.0 magnitude and hit the Santa Cruz islands, which are part of the Solomon Islands.
"The tsunami formed after a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck near the town of Lata, on Santa Cruz in Temotu, the easternmost province in the Solomons, about a 3-hour flight from the capital, Honiara. Temotu has a population of around 30,000," reported the Associated Press.
Officials reported two 1.5 meter tsunami waves hitting Santa Cruz island. The huge waves damaged approximately 70 to 80 homes, according to the AP.
Police Commissioner John Lansley said local police have reported that several people are presumed dead, though it hasn't been officially stated.
"Sadly, we believe some people have lost their lives," he said to the AP. "At the moment we potentially know of four, but there may of course be more."
Solomon Islands Police Commissioner John Lansley said local police patrols reported that several people were presumed dead, though the reports were still being verified.
"Sadly, we believe some people have lost their lives," he said. "At the moment we potentially know of four, but there may of course be more."
The Daily Mail reported that hospital officials in the local town of Lata said that five bodies had been brought there including a young boy around 10 years old, while many others were treated for more minor injuries.
"We're expecting quite a few more casualties" said Mr Augustine Pilve, the hospital's director of nursing to The Daily Mail.
Four villages on Santa Cruz island were hit by the tsunami waves. Two of the four face serious damage.
Richard Dapo, who lives on an island near Santa Cruz said he lives inland but he was getting calls from families who were affected by the tsunami waves.
"I try to tell the people living on the coastline, "Move inland, find a higher place. Make sure to keep away from the sea. Watch out for waves,'" he said to The AP.
Atenia Tahu, from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp. in Honiara, said to the AP, "People around the coast and in the capital are ringing in and trying to get information from us and the National Disaster Office and are slowly moving up to higher ground. But panic? No, no, no, people are not panicking."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
