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Solomons tsunami aid stepped up Solomons tsunami aid stepped up
(about 1 hour later)
Emergency aid supplies are being stepped up to thousands of people stranded after a devastating tsunami struck parts of the Solomon Islands. Emergency aid supplies are being stepped up to thousands of people stranded a day after a devastating tsunami struck the Solomon Islands.
Officials said 900 homes were destroyed and 5,000 people affected. Tuesday would be a "telling day" on whether the death toll of 20 would rise, they said. At least 20 people were killed and several thousand are homeless after the huge wave destroyed towns and villages.
A state of emergency was declared after the 8-magnitude quake struck on Monday. Helicopters have made the first drops of aid but food, shelter and medicines are all said to be in short supply.
Whole villages are said to have been wiped out around the main town of Gizo in the western Solomons. A series of powerful aftershocks has further shaken the region, including two of magnitude 6.2.
Huge waves, some 10 metres (30 feet) high, were reported and a tsunami alert was raised around the Pacific. Solomons deputy police commissioner Peter Marshall said he expected the number of dead would rise as the emergency services reached more remote locations.
'Double quakes' "Today will be a telling day," he said.
Solomons deputy police commissioner Peter Marshall said: "I expect there will be further deaths to report as the day progresses unfortunately. Today will be a telling day." Most of the known victims were in Gizo, a small fishing town and diving centre only 45km (25 miles) from the epicentre.
Mr Marshall said most of the victims in the official death toll of 12 were in Gizo, a small fishing town and diving centre only 45km (25 miles) from the epicentre. A 53-year-old New Zealand man drowned trying to save his mother, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said. His mother was still missing.
Unconfirmed reports suggest widespread damage in other islands. The Papua New Guinea government is trying to confirm reports that a family of five in the country's south-eastern Milne Bay was killed in the tsunami.
Disaster Management Office spokesman Julian Makaa said on Tuesday 900 homes had been destroyed and 5,000 people affected. Solomons officials say 900 homes have been destroyed and 5,000 people affected, with many villages in parts of Western and Choiseul provinces wiped out.
Solomons National Disaster Council chairman Fred Fakari said: "We understand that a lot of villages in other areas of Western Province and Choiseul Province were totally wiped out."
At least four flights are assessing damage and at least three sea shipments will bring aid to Gizo.
Helicopters on Monday made the first drops of tents and water to about 4,000 people who spent the night in the open in the hills, unwilling to return to their homes for fear of aftershocks.Helicopters on Monday made the first drops of tents and water to about 4,000 people who spent the night in the open in the hills, unwilling to return to their homes for fear of aftershocks.
Australian quake expert Kevin McCue said the region had a history of double quakes and authorities should be on alert for another of up to magnitude 7.5.
Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio said people were in desperate need of more water, food and tents.Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio said people were in desperate need of more water, food and tents.
The Red Cross said the tsunami had left 2,000 homeless in Gizo and that reports suggested similar or worse damage elsewhere.
The UN says it has offered assistance to the government and Australia has pledged $1.6m in emergency aid.The UN says it has offered assistance to the government and Australia has pledged $1.6m in emergency aid.
PM's address
The undersea quake struck at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday).
We ran for our lives, away from the waves Arnold Pidakere,teacher, Gizo 'We are really scared' Gizo at heart of fears Animated guide: TsunamisWe ran for our lives, away from the waves Arnold Pidakere,teacher, Gizo 'We are really scared' Gizo at heart of fears Animated guide: Tsunamis
Beaches on Australia's east coast closed and people fled, fearing a repeat of the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004 that killed hundreds of thousands of people. More than 25 aftershocks hit the South Pacific islands on Tuesday, but there were no fears of another tsunami, officials said.
The alert was called off several hours later as it became clear the devastation was concentrated in the area around the Solomon Islands. Australian quake expert Kevin McCue said the region had a history of double quakes and authorities should be on alert for another of up to magnitude 7.5.
On Gizo, primary school teacher Arnold Pidakere told the BBC News website: "We ran for our lives, away from the waves. When we looked back, we saw our house being destroyed. The undersea quake struck at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday).
"There are buildings on the hills that were damaged by the earthquake." The Solomon Islands has a population of about 500,000 people - many of them living on remote and widely scattered islands in houses made of palm and bamboo.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said in an address to the nation on Monday evening: "My heart goes out to all of you in this very trying time."
The Solomon Islands has a population of about 500,000 people - many of them living on remote and widely scattered islands.
Many people live in houses made of palm and bamboo on the islands' beaches.
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