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Quake off Solomon Islands triggers tsunami Quake off Solomon Islands triggers tsunami
(about 1 hour later)
A tsunami has hit the eastern Solomon Islands after a powerful earthquake that briefly triggered tsunami warnings for several Pacific nations.A tsunami has hit the eastern Solomon Islands after a powerful earthquake that briefly triggered tsunami warnings for several Pacific nations.
There are reports that four people were killed and two are missing, while dozens of homes have been destroyed.
The magnitude 8.0 quake struck at 01:12 GMT near the Santa Cruz islands, part of the Solomon Islands nation, the US Geological Survey said.The magnitude 8.0 quake struck at 01:12 GMT near the Santa Cruz islands, part of the Solomon Islands nation, the US Geological Survey said.
A tsunami measuring 0.9m (3ft) subsequently hit Lata in the far eastern Solomons. A tsunami measuring 0.9m (3ft) then hit Lata in the far eastern Solomons.
A number of homes are reported to have been damaged in the area.
Lata is the main town on Nendo, also known as Santa Cruz Island, which is the largest island in the Santa Cruz island chain.Lata is the main town on Nendo, also known as Santa Cruz Island, which is the largest island in the Santa Cruz island chain.
Reports suggested that the worst of the damage was expected on the western side of a point on the north-west of the island, with one report putting the height of two waves there at 1.5m. The worst of the damage was said to have been on the western coast, with one report putting the waves there at 1.5m.
"The wave went 500m inland, and at this stage I was told that three villages were basically damaged," Robert Iroga, press secretary to the Solomons prime minister, told the BBC, referring to three villages west of Lata. Robert Iroga, press secretary to the Solomons prime minister, told the BBC that the waves west of Lata had travelled some 500m inland, and that three villages had been damaged.
"Houses were brought down, and the authorities were unable to ascertain as to what the damage was like because they were also running up to the mountains, up to the hills." He said the latest reports from the region were that four people had been killed.
Luke Taula, a fisheries officer in Lata, told Reuters news agency the wave came as several small tidal surges. Police are travelling to the area, he said, and the priority is to ensure the local airport is functioning so aid and supplies can be flown in.
"We have small waves come in, then go out again, then come back in. The waves have reached the airport terminal," he told the news agency. Irene Scott, who works at the Power FM radio station in the Solomons, said several people had gone to local hospitals for injuries including broken bones.
But she told the BBC that most people had moved to higher ground as soon as the quake was felt, reducing the casualties.
'No threat''No threat'
Initial reports by the USGS said the quake had a shallow depth of 5.8km (3.6 miles) but it later revised the figure to 28.7km (17.8 miles).Initial reports by the USGS said the quake had a shallow depth of 5.8km (3.6 miles) but it later revised the figure to 28.7km (17.8 miles).
Luke Taula, a fisheries officer in Lata, told Reuters news agency the wave came as several small tidal surges.
"We have small waves come in, then go out again, then come back in. The waves have reached the airport terminal," he told the news agency.
Tsunami warnings were issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, and Wallis and Futuna islands, but later cancelled.Tsunami warnings were issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, and Wallis and Futuna islands, but later cancelled.
"No tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas although some may experience small sea level changes," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said."No tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas although some may experience small sea level changes," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
The Solomon Islands form part of the Ring Of Fire, a zone of volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches encircling the Pacific basin.The Solomon Islands form part of the Ring Of Fire, a zone of volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches encircling the Pacific basin.
The 8.0 earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.6 magnitude.The 8.0 earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.6 magnitude.
The region has been experiencing a series of smaller quakes in recent days.The region has been experiencing a series of smaller quakes in recent days.
In 2007 an 8.1 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed at least 52 people in the Solomons and left thousands homeless.In 2007 an 8.1 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that killed at least 52 people in the Solomons and left thousands homeless.
Are you in the region? Have you been issued with the tsunami warning? You can contact the BBC using the form below. Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the tsunami in the Solomon Islands? You can contact the BBC using the form below.
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