02-04-07, 09:32
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Some updates:
Quote:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21488580-2,00.html
MORE than 15 people have been reported killed in the Solomon Islands near the epicentre of an earthquake that triggered today's tsunami.
"Reports have come in that more than 15 people died, just around Gizo, but with the other islands I cannot tell you," Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio said to Radio New Zealand.
He did not provide any further details of the deaths but said there was a desperate need for emergency supplies in the affected area following the tsunami, which followed an earthquake of at least 8.1 magnitude centred under the sea just 45km from Gizo.
"What we desperately need now is water, tents, and food because almost 3000-4000 people are now living on the hill at Gizo," Mr Lokopio said.
Solomons Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare earlier said the unconfirmed death toll was six, but said he expected that to rise.
Mr Lokopio said residents of Gizo were still fearful as aftershocks continued to rock the area.
He said there was no warning of the tsunami which hit just minutes after the area was rocked by the initial quake at 7.40am (6.40am AEST).
"There wasn't any warning (of the tsunami). This was a very sad thing because the warning was the earth tremors. It shook us very, very strongly and we were frightened," he said.
"All of a sudden the sea was rising up so all the people living around the coastal area, they ran up on the hill."
He said most of the government buildings and businesses in the town were destroyed, along with houses in low-lying areas.
Millions of dollars would be needed to repair the damage caused by the tsunami and quake, Mr Lokopio said.
Australia alerted
Tsunami alerts were issued for the south Pacific, with Australia's eastern seaboard warned of possible impending deadly waves. None materialised and the warnings have been downgraded, with officials saying normal activity can resume at sea and on beaches "with caution".
There was chaos in far north Queensland early today when the tsunami alerts were first issued, with traffic jams building in Cairns as motorists sought higher ground (more).
Beaches in NSW and Queensland were closed for a period earlier after Bureau of Meteorology officials said that while there "may not be a massive wall of water" about to hit the east coast, conditions could remain dangerous through the day.
As a precaution ferry services were cancelled on Sydney Harbour this morning but resumed in the after the tsunami risk was assessed as over.
Chaos in the Solomons Islands
Locals in Gizo are trying to form emergency teams to organise supplies.
Dive shop owner and 22-year Gizo resident Danny Kennedy described the devastation to NEWS.com.au as aftershocks kept coming each minute this morning.
"Sometime about 7.50am things just started shaking," Mr Kennedy said. "It lasted about 90 seconds and I was pitched around from side to side.
"I'm here now and everything is broken inside the house. Both our boats have been pitched up about 40m from where they were moored in the evening.
"There was maybe a two to three metre wave but that was quite a force.
"It just swept through town. There's dugout canoes left in the streets."
Mr Kennedy said older-style houses built on struts had all been destroyed and from an initial survey of the damage he estimated there would be up to 3000 people homeless.
"People are walking around dazed - the town is in a complete panic now.
"Our biggest problem now is food and water. We are trying to mobilize tins of food and bottles of water to a location where we can distribute it evenly." (More
By Will Temple
April 02, 2007 11:33am
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THOUSANDS are feared homeless and witnesses have described panic on streets in the Solomon Islands town worst-hit by this morning's earthquake and ensuing tsunami.
Locals in Gizo are trying to form emergency teams to organise supplies following the 8.1-magnitude earthquake, which triggered a tsunami alerts along Australia's east coast (more).
Dive shop owner and 22-year Gizo resident Danny Kennedy described the devastation to NEWS.com.au as the aftershocks kept coming each minute this morning.
"Sometime about 7.50am things just started shaking," Mr Kennedy said. "It lasted about 90 seconds and I was pitched around from side to side.
"I'm here now and everything is broken inside the house. Both our boats have been pitched up about 40m from where they were moored in the evening.
"There was maybe a two to three metre wave but that was quite a force.
"It just swept through town. There's dugout canoes left in the streets."
Mr Kennedy said he had just come back from town looking for water because his tanks had been shattered and all power was off.
He said the older style houses built on struts had all been destroyed and from an initial survey of the damage he estimated there would be up to 3000 people homeless.
"The village communities to the north of us there's not a lot left," he said.
"People are walking around dazed - the town is in a complete panic now.
"Our biggest problem now is food and water. We are trying to mobilize tins of food and bottles of water to a location where we can distribute it evenly."
Earlier, Mr Kennedy's daughter Judith, 20, saw the quake hit the town from their home getting ready to go to work
"The water came up to the town when the big earthquake hit and then everything went down," she said. "The water all drained away. Downtown is a big mess - lots of houses went down.
"It's a fine day here but it's very dry and the sea is very low. The water has drained away."
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