Significant aftershocks continue to pound Santa Cruz Islands region as govt. declares a State of Disaster
Solomon Islands government has declared a State of Disaster for Santa Cruz Islands after a meter-high tsunami triggered by a magnitude 8.0 quake engulfed the region on Wednesday.
- At least nine people are dead and many are missing after the tsunami damaged or destroyed more than 20 villages.
- Officials say scope of the disaster is much worse than initially thought and they still don’t know the fate of the more outlying villages in the reef islands.
- The tsunami has wept away entire villages, spreading debris everywhere.
- “The force behind the meter-high [tsunami] wave swept everything in its path, especially in low-lying areas,” said an official.
- “Many people have no clothes at all, everything was washed away.”
- Authorities say about 7,000 people have been displaced as a result of the tsunami, but the number could reach much higher.
Earthquake Location Map – Santa Cruz Islands Region
Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP
More than 150 aftershocks have rocked the Santa Cruz Island region following the main shock that struck on Wednesday, February 06, 2013.
- A 6.6Mw aftershock struck about 36 km (22 miles) SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands at a depth of about 10km on Thursday, February 07, 2013 at 18:59:16 UTC, USGS/EHP reported.
Related Links
- Tsunami Warning: Powerful Quake Off Solomon Islands February 6, 2013