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Solomons death toll still unclear Aid effort gears up for Solomons
(about 4 hours later)
Officials in the Solomon Islands say there is no evidence of widespread death from this week's tsunami but casualty figures are still unclear. International aid has slowly begun to arrive in the Solomon Islands after it was hit by a tsunami earlier this week.
Police put the death toll at about 30 but warned it was too early to say that deaths could not rise significantly. Police say at least 30 people were killed when a magnitude 8.0 earthquake sent giant waves crashing into remote parts of the South Pacific archipelago.
Many areas are remote and aid has only slowly begun to arrive. Many islanders are still camped on hillsides with little food or water, and officials warn of dire consequences if more supplies do not come soon.
Many islanders are still camped on hillsides with little food or water and officials warn of dire consequences if more supplies do not come soon. The disaster's scale is not yet clear as some areas have not been reached.
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 the remote Pacific region. No-one knows how many people have died or are missing as rescue workers have still to reach some outlying villages, says the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney.
Hospitals request One official said the destruction was "massive and widespread".
Solomons deputy police commissioner Peter Marshall told Agence France-Presse that although there were "very obvious areas of destruction to villages", aerial surveys suggested there was "no evidence of widespread death". Bodies have been seen floating in the sea by authorities conducting aerial surveys of the devastated area.
Up to 5,400 people are homeless and in urgent need of food, water and shelter, but it could take until Friday to reach them, government spokesman George Herming is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
The first of several medical teams is being flown into the region. Australia, the US and the International Red Cross have also offered to help.
When you have a tsunami coming in so quickly after an earthquake, it doesn't do much good to have an early warning system Kerry Sieh,US quake expert 'It is very overcrowded' Gizo at heart of fears Animated guide: TsunamisWhen you have a tsunami coming in so quickly after an earthquake, it doesn't do much good to have an early warning system Kerry Sieh,US quake expert 'It is very overcrowded' Gizo at heart of fears Animated guide: Tsunamis
But he warned this might change and said police were checking reports of dozens of bodies off the island of Simbo. Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, who was inspecting army reservists who are being sent to the islands, said the Solomons would receive all the help they needed:
The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says the scale of the disaster has yet to be revealed as rescuers are still trying to reach outlying areas. "It seems at the moment that supplies are required and we will fly those out: these are medical, food, water, and other forms of necessary supplies and equipment to support the Solomon Islanders. We will transport them by C-130 Hercules and we will expect that they will leave Australia over the next 24 hours."
A New Zealand transport aircraft is delivering 1,000 tents and tarpaulins, as well as water supplies, to the island of Munda.A New Zealand transport aircraft is delivering 1,000 tents and tarpaulins, as well as water supplies, to the island of Munda.
Aid to the town of Gizo, which was almost completely flattened by waves several metres high, should improve once its airport is cleared of debris, which should happen soon, our correspondent says. Aid to the town of Gizo, which was badly hit by waves several metres high, should improve once its airport is cleared of debris, which should happen soon, our correspondent says.
Some of the thousands camped on a hill behind Gizo town are returning to homes but others are remaining, fearful of more aftershocks. Solomons officials have also asked Australia and New Zealand for two mobile hospitals as the hospitals at Gizo and Munda had been wrecked.
Among the dead were a bishop and three worshippers, killed when a wave hit a church on Simbo. Warning debate
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. The undersea quake struck at 0740 local time on Monday (2040 GMT Sunday), and was followed by a tsunami which sent waves several metres high sweeping through western fringes of the archipelago.
Disaster relief official Julian Makaa put the number of homes destroyed at 900 and the number of people affected at 5,000. Some of the thousands camped on a hill behind Gizo town are returning to their homes, but others are remaining, fearful of more aftershocks.
He said there was no way to know yet how many were dead in remote areas as there were no means of communication. Disaster relief official Julian Makaa put the number of homes destroyed at 900.
Solomons officials have asked Australia and New Zealand for two mobile hospitals as the hospitals at Gizo and Munda had been wrecked.
The tsunami has rekindled the debate about warning systems.The tsunami has rekindled the debate about warning systems.
Some experts said they were of little use if the affected areas were so close, as with Monday's quake.Some experts said they were of little use if the affected areas were so close, as with Monday's quake.
But UN special coordinator for the early warning system in Indonesia, Michael Rottmann, said even a warning of 10 minutes could save "a lot of lives".But UN special coordinator for the early warning system in Indonesia, Michael Rottmann, said even a warning of 10 minutes could save "a lot of lives".