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| Quake off Solomon Islands triggers deadly tsunami | Quake off Solomon Islands triggers deadly tsunami |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Homes were damaged and at least five people have been reported dead after a tsunami triggered by an undersea earthquake hit the Solomon Islands. | Homes were damaged and at least five people have been reported dead after a tsunami triggered by an undersea earthquake hit the Solomon Islands. |
| The quake, with a magnitude 8.0, struck at 01:12 GMT near the Santa Cruz islands, the US Geological Survey said. | The quake, with a magnitude 8.0, struck at 01:12 GMT near the Santa Cruz islands, the US Geological Survey said. |
| A tsunami measuring 0.9m (3ft) then hit Lata on eastern Santa Cruz island, swamping the island's airport. | A tsunami measuring 0.9m (3ft) then hit Lata on eastern Santa Cruz island, swamping the island's airport. |
| A tsunami warning was triggered for several Pacific nations, but was cancelled about two hours later. | A tsunami warning was triggered for several Pacific nations, but was cancelled about two hours later. |
| Lata is the main town on Santa Cruz, also known as Nendo. It is the largest island in the Santa Cruz island chain, part of the Solomon Islands nation. | Lata is the main town on Santa Cruz, also known as Nendo. It is the largest island in the Santa Cruz island chain, part of the Solomon Islands nation. |
| The worst of the damage was said to have been on the western coast of Santa Cruz, with one report putting the waves there at 1.5m. | The worst of the damage was said to have been on the western coast of Santa Cruz, with one report putting the waves there at 1.5m. |
| Medical staff at Lata hospital said five people had been killed - four elderly people and one young boy. | Medical staff at Lata hospital said five people had been killed - four elderly people and one young boy. |
| But director of nursing Augustine Pilve told New Zealand television that number could rise. | But director of nursing Augustine Pilve told New Zealand television that number could rise. |
| "It's more likely that other villages along the coast of Santa Cruz may be affected," he said. | "It's more likely that other villages along the coast of Santa Cruz may be affected," he said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Many of the homes in the area were semi-permanent, he said, and were reported to have been flattened. | Many of the homes in the area were semi-permanent, he said, and were reported to have been flattened. |
| Police were travelling to the area, he said, and the priority was to ensure the local airport is functioning so aid and supplies can be flown in. | Police were travelling to the area, he said, and the priority was to ensure the local airport is functioning so aid and supplies can be flown in. |
| Another government spokesman, George Herming, said reports suggested that between 60 to 70 homes have been damaged in four villages on Santa Cruz Islands. | Another government spokesman, George Herming, said reports suggested that between 60 to 70 homes have been damaged in four villages on Santa Cruz Islands. |
| "At this stage, authorities are still trying to establish the exact number and extent of damage," he told AFP, adding that communications with the islands was difficult because of their remoteness. | "At this stage, authorities are still trying to establish the exact number and extent of damage," he told AFP, adding that communications with the islands was difficult because of their remoteness. |
| '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. | 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. | "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. | 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 they were later cancelled. by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which warned that some coastal areas may still experience small changes in sea level. | But they were later cancelled. by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which warned that some coastal areas may still experience small changes in sea level. |
| 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. |