1,000 people homeless on Solomons after tsunami

[demoleft]

Source: ap

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Landslides and a tsunami destroyed the homes of about one-third of the population on a Solomon Island, but lives were likely spared as residents with memories of previous disasters fled quickly to higher ground, officials said Tuesday.

From the air, extensive damage could be seen on a remote western island after a 7.2-magnitude temblor triggered the landslides in the Pacific Solomon Islands on Monday, said disaster management office director Loti Yates.

No injuries have been reported some 30 hours after the biggest in a series of quakes churned a tsunami wave that was up to 10 feet (3 meters) high as it plowed into the coast, officials said.

However, more than 1,000 people have been affected after some 200 houses were destroyed on Rendova, an island some 190 miles (300 kilometers) from the capital Honiara. Only 3,600 people live on Rendova.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100105/ap_on_re_as/as_solomon_islands_quakes

[Arctic Dave]

1. Glad to hear everyone was safe.

[demoleft]

2. yes.

'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".'

source bbc. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8441044.stm

[aquart]

3. A 7.2 on Monday?

How did I manage not to hear a thing about it?

[Quantess]

4. I hadn't heard about this tsunami.

[Solly Mack]

5. k/r

[lonestarnot]

6. Hadn't heard a peep about this until just now. Thanks.