Tsunami strikes the West
A Sad Day for the Western Province and Solomon Islands
This morning at 740am a powerful earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter Scale struck Solomon Islands.
The earthquake was located at 25 miles South-south-east of the Provincial capital, Gizo. The US Geological Survey recorded that the earthquake started 10 kilometres under the sea. Following the earthquake, tsunami waves struck some parts of the many islands in the Western Province causing extensive damage and some deaths.
By seven o'clock in the evening, reports reaching the national broadcaster, SIBC, confirmed 10 deaths. This consists of six deaths on Simbo Islands, two in provincial capital, Gizo and two at Sasamuga on Choiseul. The Premier of the Western Province, Alex Lokopio, has however told overseas media including BBC that the number has gone beyond 15. The number of deaths is expected to increase, as reports are gathered from other islands especially Rendova, Ranonga and Vella Lavella and the Shortland Islands.
PM sends condolence Message
Prime minister Manaseh Sogavare had sent his government's condolence to the premiers and the people of Western and Choiseul provinces following this morning's tsunami.
He said the government through National Disaster Council and other agencies is fully committed to make it their priority to assist the affected people. Mr Sogavare said a team comprising the police, health officials, infrastructure development officers and officers from the prime ministers office have been dispatched to Munda to set up a base there to help with coordinating of logistics and assistance. He says the government had already arranged for the dispatch of tents, food and drinking water to the people.
Meanwhile, a report from Australia says that Canberra is giving an initial offer of up to two million Australian dollars in emergency and reconstruction assistance to the Solomon Islands government.
Series of Earthquakes
Could this be amongst the unique happenings to have occurred in the history of earthquakes? May be not.
One of the most striking features(at least to me) is the number of earthquakes that happened after the tremor that struck at 740am Solomon Islands time Monday, 02 April 2007. The US Geological Survey which monitors earthquakes recorded 17 earth tremors up to 615pm the same day. That's 17 earthquakes in 10 hours 30 minutes. The tremors ranged from 4.8 to 8 on the Richter Scale and most of them happening around the same area.
MyBlog comments
It was four days since MyBlog's last posting, but it was worth waiting. It is a sad happening, but a big news event.
Last week, there have been reports from Munda, Western Province of a series of small earthquakes. It could have been the signs of things to come. MyBlog was predicting a possible eruption of either the dormant Simbo Islands volcano or the marine volcano of Chavachi also in the Western Province.
The disaster will certainly bring about the cooperative spirit of Solomon Islanders to rise up to the occasion and help the victims of the tsunami. The death toll is expected to rise beyond the confirmed 10 and estimated 20 or so. But MyBlog hopes the increase does not get that worse.
MyBlog and many Solomon Islander must have thought tsunami only happened in other countries. But the truth is that it can happen in other parts of the world.
Say a prayer for the victims of the disaster.
....and Shalom.
This morning at 740am a powerful earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter Scale struck Solomon Islands.
The earthquake was located at 25 miles South-south-east of the Provincial capital, Gizo. The US Geological Survey recorded that the earthquake started 10 kilometres under the sea. Following the earthquake, tsunami waves struck some parts of the many islands in the Western Province causing extensive damage and some deaths.
By seven o'clock in the evening, reports reaching the national broadcaster, SIBC, confirmed 10 deaths. This consists of six deaths on Simbo Islands, two in provincial capital, Gizo and two at Sasamuga on Choiseul. The Premier of the Western Province, Alex Lokopio, has however told overseas media including BBC that the number has gone beyond 15. The number of deaths is expected to increase, as reports are gathered from other islands especially Rendova, Ranonga and Vella Lavella and the Shortland Islands.
PM sends condolence Message
Prime minister Manaseh Sogavare had sent his government's condolence to the premiers and the people of Western and Choiseul provinces following this morning's tsunami.
He said the government through National Disaster Council and other agencies is fully committed to make it their priority to assist the affected people. Mr Sogavare said a team comprising the police, health officials, infrastructure development officers and officers from the prime ministers office have been dispatched to Munda to set up a base there to help with coordinating of logistics and assistance. He says the government had already arranged for the dispatch of tents, food and drinking water to the people.
Meanwhile, a report from Australia says that Canberra is giving an initial offer of up to two million Australian dollars in emergency and reconstruction assistance to the Solomon Islands government.
Series of Earthquakes
Could this be amongst the unique happenings to have occurred in the history of earthquakes? May be not.
One of the most striking features(at least to me) is the number of earthquakes that happened after the tremor that struck at 740am Solomon Islands time Monday, 02 April 2007. The US Geological Survey which monitors earthquakes recorded 17 earth tremors up to 615pm the same day. That's 17 earthquakes in 10 hours 30 minutes. The tremors ranged from 4.8 to 8 on the Richter Scale and most of them happening around the same area.
MyBlog comments
It was four days since MyBlog's last posting, but it was worth waiting. It is a sad happening, but a big news event.
Last week, there have been reports from Munda, Western Province of a series of small earthquakes. It could have been the signs of things to come. MyBlog was predicting a possible eruption of either the dormant Simbo Islands volcano or the marine volcano of Chavachi also in the Western Province.
The disaster will certainly bring about the cooperative spirit of Solomon Islanders to rise up to the occasion and help the victims of the tsunami. The death toll is expected to rise beyond the confirmed 10 and estimated 20 or so. But MyBlog hopes the increase does not get that worse.
MyBlog and many Solomon Islander must have thought tsunami only happened in other countries. But the truth is that it can happen in other parts of the world.
Say a prayer for the victims of the disaster.
....and Shalom.
posted by Myblog | 10:23 pm
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