Tsunami after earthquake on Solomon Islands Southern Pacific

Several killed in quake and tsunami in Solomon Islands
After an earthquake, a tsunami has driven thousands of people in the Solomon Islands on hills. Dozens of houses were washed away. Four people died. 781 families have been affected.

A man at the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology observed the earthquake history on the monitor

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Earthquake
Tsunami
During a severe magnitude 8 earthquake with a tsunami on the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific least four people have lost their life. Two were missing on the island of Santa Cruz, reported government spokesman Robert Iroga the BBC. "Fortunately, the area is not densely populated." Dozens of houses were washed away.

Lived according to a census of 1999 around 781 families, reported the aid organization World Vision. "I am in one of the affected villages knee-deep in the water and I can see a number of homes that were swept away," said World Vision staff Jeremiah Tabua. Power and water supplies were disrupted. Most of the 4,000 residents of the largest town Lata had immediately fled to higher ground.

A few minutes after the quake at lunchtime rolled at least two waves with a height of up to a meter on the coast, local radio reported. The water entered up to 500 meters into the country.

"Here are all safe,"

The runway of the airport in Lata and four villages in the vicinity were flooded, according to World Vision. According to unconfirmed reports 100 huts were destroyed. "Our main focus at the moment is that the airport is reopened to fly in aid," said government spokesman Irorga.

"Here in the capital Honiara are all safe," said an employee of the German consul. They did not feel the earthquake. The capital is located on another island about 600 kilometers to the west. With a quake of magnitude 8.1 in 2007 in the Solomon Islands 50 people perished.

The U.S. Geological authority initially estimated that the epicenter was only five kilometers below the sea floor, but it was later corrected to almost 29 kilometers. A tsunami warning for numerous Pacific-countries was later repealed.