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| Aid reaches tsunami-hit Solomons | Aid reaches tsunami-hit Solomons |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Emergency aid is finally trickling through to thousands of people stranded by the devastating tsunami which struck the western Solomon Islands. | Emergency aid is finally trickling through to thousands of people stranded by the devastating tsunami which struck the western Solomon Islands. |
| At least 22 people died in Monday's disaster but the toll is set to rise, as many others are still missing. | At least 22 people died in Monday's disaster but the toll is set to rise, as many others are still missing. |
| Thousands of residents of Gizo town are now homeless, and many of them are due to spend a second night sleeping in the open in hills behind the town. | Thousands of residents of Gizo town are now homeless, and many of them are due to spend a second night sleeping in the open in hills behind the town. |
| A series of aftershocks has shaken the isolated region still further. | A series of aftershocks has shaken the isolated region still further. |
| The 8.0-magnitude undersea quake struck at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday), and was followed by a tsunami which brought huge waves crashing down on the coastline of this remote Pacific region. | The 8.0-magnitude undersea quake struck at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday), and was followed by a tsunami which brought huge waves crashing down on the coastline of this remote Pacific region. |
| Hundreds of coastal homes, many made of palm and bamboo, did not stand a chance against the double onslaught. | Hundreds of coastal homes, many made of palm and bamboo, did not stand a chance against the double onslaught. |
| There are many of us here, people are afraid to leave the higher ground Arnold Pidakere,teacher, Gizo href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6518749.stm">'It is very overcrowded' href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6521509.stm">Gizo at heart of fears Animated guide: Tsunamis Most of the known victims were in Gizo, a small fishing town and diving centre only 45km (25 miles) from the epicentre of the quake. | |
| A 53-year-old New Zealand man is known to have drowned there while trying to save his mother, who is also assumed to have died in the disaster. | A 53-year-old New Zealand man is known to have drowned there while trying to save his mother, who is also assumed to have died in the disaster. |
| Many of the town's buildings and infrastructure have been destroyed. | Many of the town's buildings and infrastructure have been destroyed. |
| "Gizo has to be rebuilt," Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio told Radio New Zealand. | "Gizo has to be rebuilt," Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio told Radio New Zealand. |
| Other outlying areas were also badly affected. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said aerial patrols had reported "massive and widespread" destruction. | Other outlying areas were also badly affected. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said aerial patrols had reported "massive and widespread" destruction. |
| A bishop and three worshippers were reportedly killed when a wave hit a church on the island of Simbo, and reports of deaths have also come in from several other areas. | A bishop and three worshippers were reportedly killed when a wave hit a church on the island of Simbo, and reports of deaths have also come in from several other areas. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Aid arrivals | Aid arrivals |
| Solomons officials estimate that 5,000 people were affected by the disaster, and Mr Lokopio said people were in desperate need of water, food and tents. | Solomons officials estimate that 5,000 people were affected by the disaster, and Mr Lokopio said people were in desperate need of water, food and tents. |
| Helicopters and a police patrol boat had made the first deliveries of aid by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, but far more is needed. | Helicopters and a police patrol boat had made the first deliveries of aid by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, but far more is needed. |
| "Many water tanks have been damaged, and we also have a problem with food supplies. The gardens have been inundated, so there is a problem with fresh food," a spokeswoman for Australian aid agency Caritas told Australian radio. | "Many water tanks have been damaged, and we also have a problem with food supplies. The gardens have been inundated, so there is a problem with fresh food," a spokeswoman for Australian aid agency Caritas told Australian radio. |
| Deputy police commissioner Peter Marshall said officials would tolerate survivors taking goods they did not own until more supplies arrived. | Deputy police commissioner Peter Marshall said officials would tolerate survivors taking goods they did not own until more supplies arrived. |
| "They are desperate times in Gizo," he told the Associated Press, "and we've got to be practical". | "They are desperate times in Gizo," he told the Associated Press, "and we've got to be practical". |
| Many of the town's residents spent the night on nearby hills, sleeping in the open. | Many of the town's residents spent the night on nearby hills, sleeping in the open. |
| "Basically everybody is still up on high ground because we are still receiving really quite major aftershocks," said Danny Kennedy, a local dive shop owner. | "Basically everybody is still up on high ground because we are still receiving really quite major aftershocks," said Danny Kennedy, a local dive shop owner. |
| But there is hope that more aid will arrive in the region soon. | But there is hope that more aid will arrive in the region soon. |
| The Gizo airstrip is now usable after being cleared of debris, and Australian and New Zealand military helicopters based in the Solomons as part of a regional security force are set to join relief operations. | The Gizo airstrip is now usable after being cleared of debris, and Australian and New Zealand military helicopters based in the Solomons as part of a regional security force are set to join relief operations. |
| 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. |