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| Quake off Solomon Islands triggers deadly tsunami | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A tsunami triggered by an earthquake has hit the Solomon Islands, with at least four people reported dead. | |
| The quake, with a magnitude 8.0, struck at 01:12 GMT near the Santa Cruz islands, part of the Solomon Islands nation, the US Geological Survey said. | |
| A tsunami measuring 0.9m (3ft) then hit Lata in the far eastern Solomons and a tsunami warning was briefly trigged for several Pacific nations. | |
| Dozens of homes on Santa Cruz are reported to have been destroyed | |
| Lata is the main town on Nendo, also known as Santa Cruz Island, which is the largest island in the Santa Cruz island chain. | Lata is the main town on Nendo, also known as Santa Cruz Island, which is the largest island in the Santa Cruz island chain. |
| The worst of the damage was said to have been on the western coast, with one report putting the waves there at 1.5m. | The worst of the damage was said to have been on the western coast, with one report putting the waves there at 1.5m. |
| 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. |
| He said the latest reports from the region were that four people had been killed. | He said the latest reports from the region were that four people had been killed. |
| Police are travelling to the area, he said, and the priority is to ensure the local airport is functioning so aid and supplies can be flown in. | Police are travelling to the area, he said, and the priority is to ensure the local airport is functioning so aid and supplies can be flown in. |
| But medical staff at the Lata Hospital put the number killed at five - four elderly people and one young boy. | |
| Irene Scott, who works at the Power FM radio station in the Solomons, said several people had gone to local hospitals for injuries including broken bones. | Irene Scott, who works at the Power FM radio station in the Solomons, said several people had gone to local hospitals for injuries including broken bones. |
| But she told the BBC that most people had moved to higher ground as soon as the quake was felt, reducing the casualties. | But she told the BBC that most people had moved to higher ground as soon as the quake was felt, reducing the casualties. |
| '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, but later cancelled. | 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 later cancelled. |
| "No tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas although some may experience small sea level changes," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. | "No tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas although some may experience small sea level changes," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. |
| 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. |
| Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the tsunami in the Solomon Islands? You can contact the BBC using the form below. | Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the tsunami in the Solomon Islands? You can contact the BBC using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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