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/6516759.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Tsunami strikes Solomon Islands Tsunami strikes Solomon Islands
(about 2 hours later)
A tsunami has swept ashore in the Solomon Islands after a strong undersea earthquake in the South Pacific. At least 10 people have died in the Solomon Islands after a tsunami swept ashore following a strong undersea earthquake in the South Pacific.
Initial reports from outlying, remote areas say at least eight people have been killed, but local officials fear the death toll could rise further. The main town in the western Solomons, Gizo, was hit by waves several metres high that swamped buildings and washed people out to sea, officials said.
The National Disaster Council chairman told reporters that some villages had been "completely wiped out". Local officials fear the numbers of dead could rise, with reports of outlying villages being destroyed.
Tsunami warnings have also been issued for Papua New Guinea, north-east Australia, and other nearby islands.
The quake measured 8.0 and hit at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday).The quake measured 8.0 and hit at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday).
A tsunami warning for the Pacific from Australia to Alaska was issued but later cancelled.
The National Disaster Council chairman told reporters that some villages had been "completely wiped out".
It struck 345km (215 miles) north-west of the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara, north-east of Australia, the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 10km (six miles) below the surface.It struck 345km (215 miles) north-west of the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara, north-east of Australia, the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 10km (six miles) below the surface.
EvacuationEvacuation
One of the worst affected areas is the town of Gizo, in the west of the Solomons, which was only 45km (25 miles) from the epicentre of the quake. Gizo was only 45km (25 miles) from the epicentre of the quake.
There was 10ft of water rushing through town Harry WickhamHotel worker, Gizo There was 10ft of water rushing through town Harry WickhamHotel worker, Gizo class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5194316.stm">Animated guide: Tsunamis
"All the houses near the sea were flattened," as water "right up to your head" swept through the town, said Gizo resident Judith Kennedy. "There wasn't any warning - the warning was the earth tremors," said Western Province's Premier Alex Lokopio.
"A lot of houses have collapsed. The whole town is still shaking," she told the Associated Press. "It shook us very, very strongly and we were frightened, and all of a sudden the sea was rising up," he told Radio New Zealand.
He said the water "moved toward the island and hit all the houses on the coastal area, and all of their property was washed away to the open sea."
Gizo resident Judith Kennedy said "a lot of houses have collapsed. The whole town is still shaking," she told the Associated Press several hours after the earthquake struck.
Harry Wickham, a hotel worker in Gizo, told New Zealand television that "there was 10ft of water rushing through town".Harry Wickham, a hotel worker in Gizo, told New Zealand television that "there was 10ft of water rushing through town".
There are reports that a local hospital has been inundated by water and at least three people are confirmed dead in the town.There are reports that a local hospital has been inundated by water and at least three people are confirmed dead in the town.
Remote islands
Britain's deputy high commissioner in Honiara told the BBC that four people were also missing from Mono Island.Britain's deputy high commissioner in Honiara told the BBC that four people were also missing from Mono Island.
The Solomon Islands has a population of about 500,000 people - some of them living on remote islands.
"Those western islands are very scattered and it's very difficult for us to get there or communicate, but we are sending a team to investigate," said the Solomon Islands government spokesman Alfred Maesulia.
The earthquake was also felt in the capital, Honiara. David Leeming, who lives in the city, told the BBC News website that his five-storey office building shook and staff left the building for safety.The earthquake was also felt in the capital, Honiara. David Leeming, who lives in the city, told the BBC News website that his five-storey office building shook and staff left the building for safety.
Residents of the Papua New Guinea port city of Rabaul reported seeing the sea recede down the beach, followed by high waves, but no damage has yet been reported. Residents of the Papua New Guinea port city of Rabaul reported seeing the sea recede down the beach, followed by high waves, but no damage was reported.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning for all countries in the South Pacific region.
Later it was down-scaled, but authorities in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, north-eastern Australia, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji were being advised to stay on alert.
Officials in Australia said the coast of New South Wales could face dangerous waves and flooding in the coming hours.
Several beaches in Sydney have been closed as a precaution.
Experts in Japan and Hawaii were also monitoring the situation.
Are you in the affected area? If you have witnessed the tsunami and are able to send us any accounts or photos, please do so using the form below. Are you in the affected area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below.
name="say">
method="post" action="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/cgiemail/newstalk/form_all.txt"> name="email_subject" type="hidden" value="Pacific_tsunami"> name="mailto" type="hidden" value="talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk"> name="success" type="hidden" value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/have_your_say/html/have_your_say_thanks.stm"> Name
You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 0044 (0)7725 100 100
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name: