from Peceli
It is so sad to hear about the death and destruction in the Solomon Islands by earthquakes and a tsunami.
from BBC
Aid reaching areas hit by tsunami
Tuesday, 3 April 2007 11:27 Emergency aid is finally trickling through to thousands of people stranded by the devastating tsunami which struck the western Solomon Islands following yesterday's earthquake.
The earthquake has left at least 24 people dead and more than 5,400 survivors homeless. There are so far no verified figures for the numbers missing. Officials said 13 villages were destroyed.
Most of the dead and displaced were around the seaside diving town of Gizo, which witnesses said was pounded by a five metre- high tsunami.
The 8.0 magnitude quake early yesterday sparked the tidal wave that also hit towns in the country's Western Province.
An Anglican bishop and three of his congregation were among those killed. Bishop Rowlington Zappo was presiding over an ordination ceremony on the island of Simbo, not far from Gizo, when the quake struck.
My sympathy and prayers are with our friends there in the Solomons.
ReplyDeleteAnd now Udu and Taveuni island have copped another bad blow, with wind and rain damage. One poster in Exiles Board who lives in the north end of Taveuni said they did not have serious warnings about the impending cyclone/gale whatever it is named as. I am thinking now of the little islands of Lau, how low they are and so vulnerable.
ReplyDeletew.
I read that the Solomons had over 30 aftershocks of magnitude 5 or more. No chance for warning when the epicenter is just 25 miles away. Terrible.
ReplyDeleteThat's a cyclone off Taveuni - getting stronger too.
Panda,
ReplyDeleteThe damage has already been done in Taveuni. Aloha posted on Fijiboardexiles that they got the brunt of the wind even before the major cyclone warnings were given.
w.
Aloha's posting this afternoon:
ReplyDeleteThis is one crazy country!!! Alohabula1
I'm sorry but I have to grumble and if any of you are in Fiji on this Cyclone Cliff track and read this....batten down the hatches it is gnarly.
We didn't even get a moments warning in the North...after it passes they say we are a Cyclone Alert...%$^%&* we have trees down or broken and uprooted, root crops destroyed, roofs off or crushed, boats run aground, roads blocked under mud slides or fallen trees, the windows on the boat blew out while my honey was riding it out on anchor in the raging seas. Most of them just sucked right out and a couple cracked.
Meanwhile, I am running around with 3 broken ribs from...it doesn't matter...an accident while having fun... trying to get things together on land.. Anyway it was pretty bad and made worse because no one had time to prepare except to shut the windows!!! Oh yeah that helps, the rice is floating in the pot on the stove!! After it was over we all thought it was the eye and everyone ran out to tie down whatever roofs were left hanging, put up hurricane shutters. Sheeessshhh
Then we have a Tsunami warning and lots of people go to the beach...are ya NUTS??? A wave that moves 2 to 300 miles an hour and levels everything with the debris aften going a few miles into shore...sure lets go watch it, that will be fun.
This country HAS to do something about their disaster warning system!!!
Now I know watcher will come on and tell me to have a lay down and a cup a tea...which I would except I don't drink coffee or tea and my ribs are too sore to lay down
Seriously if any of you guys are on the track please run out and do something NOW...it is supposed to hit Lau tonight so hopefully Viti Levu will be safe??
This link has tracking of Cyclone Cliff.
ReplyDeletewww.tenspider.net/weather/hurricane-tracking.html