| Situation Update No. 2 Ref.no.: TS-20100104-24425-SLB
Situation Update No. 2
On 2010-01-05 at 05:30:37 [UTC]
Event: Tsunami
Location: Solomon Islands Tetepare Island Situation: The United Nations agency UNICEF says it is helping Solomon Islanders after a tsunami hit the Rendova and Tetepare Islands on Monday. It is believed the tsunami was generated by a series of quakes that have rocked the Solomons since Sunday, including one registering 7.2 on the Richter scale. The US Geological Survey says that tremor's epicentre was 103km from the earthquake-prone island town of Gizo. A major tsunami hit the Western Province of Solomon Islands in April 2007. And UNICEF says it was already on the ground in Gizo working on reconstruction and so was well positioned to immediately send an assessment team to Rendova and Tetepare. It says there are reports that Rendova Island has been severely affected with hundreds of houses damaged and large areas completely inundated. There are 3,600 people living there. "It will take several days however until we know the full extend and consequences of this tsunami because these islands are very remote and difficult to access," says UNICEF Pacific Representative Dr Isiye Ndombi. Two Emergency Specialists from UNICEF Pacific are also travelling from Fiji to the Solomons to provide additional support to relief efforts. |  |
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