This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8441044.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Homes destroyed by Solomons quake | Homes destroyed by Solomons quake |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Landslides and a tsunami triggered by a quake in the South Pacific's Solomon Islands have left some 1,000 people homeless, say officials. | Landslides and a tsunami triggered by a quake in the South Pacific's Solomon Islands have left some 1,000 people homeless, say officials. |
Aftershocks continued on Tuesday after Monday's quakes - the largest of which was magnitude 7.2. | Aftershocks continued on Tuesday after Monday's quakes - the largest of which was magnitude 7.2. |
This quake led to a tsunami with waves of eight feet (2.5m) in some areas. | This quake led to a tsunami with waves of eight feet (2.5m) in some areas. |
It led to widespread panic, according to eyewitnesses, but officials said there had been no reports of serious injury or deaths. | It led to widespread panic, according to eyewitnesses, but officials said there had been no reports of serious injury or deaths. |
About 200 houses were destroyed on remote Rendova island, some 190 miles (300km) from the capital Honiara, officials said. | About 200 houses were destroyed on remote Rendova island, some 190 miles (300km) from the capital Honiara, officials said. |
Sparsely populated | Sparsely populated |
Aerial photographs taken from police helicopters on Tuesday showed debris littering the coast, and scars from landslides inland. | Aerial photographs taken from police helicopters on Tuesday showed debris littering the coast, and scars from landslides inland. |
Police commissioner Peter Marshall told the Associated Press news agency that the lack of casualties was probably because people moved to higher ground. | Police commissioner Peter Marshall told the Associated Press news agency that the lack of casualties was probably because people moved to higher ground. |
"The fact that it was daylight, the isolated nature of the wave and that the landslides were in a relatively sparsely populated area (also helped)," he said. | "The fact that it was daylight, the isolated nature of the wave and that the landslides were in a relatively sparsely populated area (also helped)," he said. |
Dive shop owner Danny Kennedy said people seemed to have followed a local rule that "if there's anything more than 20 seconds of shaking or any sea water recedes, head for the hills". | Dive shop owner Danny Kennedy said people seemed to have followed a local rule that "if there's anything more than 20 seconds of shaking or any sea water recedes, head for the hills". |
The US Geological Survey said the two quakes - the second of which measured 6.5 - struck about 55 miles (90km) from the small island of Ghizo, near Rendova. | The US Geological Survey said the two quakes - the second of which measured 6.5 - struck about 55 miles (90km) from the small island of Ghizo, near Rendova. |
An 8.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in the same area nearly three years ago killed more than 50 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands. | An 8.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in the same area nearly three years ago killed more than 50 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands. |
Rendova has a population of about 3,600 and the UN children's fund, Unicef, is rebuilding 19 schools there following the 2007 tsunami. | Rendova has a population of about 3,600 and the UN children's fund, Unicef, is rebuilding 19 schools there following the 2007 tsunami. |
Do you live on the Solomon Islands? Have you been affected by the quake and the tsunami? Send us your experiences using the form below. | |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |
Previous version
1
Next version