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Dozens missing in Solomon Islands

flash floods
5 April 2014

AFP

Government officials in the Solomon Islands say that the flooding is the worst that they have ever seen

Dozens of people are still missing aer flash floods that have killed at
least 12 people and le some 10,000 homeless in the Solomon Islands.

Local media said about 30 people remained unaccounted for following

Thursday's flooding.

Much of the capital Honiara was inundated as thousands of people took refuge
in emergency shelters.

A state of emergency has been declared amid concerns over food and water
supplies and damaged infrastructure.

Solomons Red Cross Secretary General Joanne Zoleveke described the floods
as "a tragedy none of us saw coming".

The flooding in Honiara followed days of heavy rain in the area

Honiara's main river, the Matanikau, burst its banks in the storm, sweeping
away houses and bridges and flooding the downtown area.

"We were watching the river but never expected it to rise so fast. It took us by
surprise. That is why there are deaths," Mr Zoleveke said.

Eleven evacuation centres have been set up at schools and at Honiara's

international airport, the World Vision aid agency says.

It says that the domestic airport terminal is under water and there are fears
about the spread of disease once the water subsides.
 AFP

It is feared that the floods have caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the islands' infrastructure

Other parts of Guadalcanal province - where the capital is located - have also
been declared disaster zones, officials say.

"Clean water sources have been contaminated, sanitation facilities destroyed

and there is a lack of medicines to treat people who get sick," said Lawrence
Hillary, World Vision's emergency response manager in the islands.

While water levels were reported to be subsiding on Saturday, aid agencies

have warned that police still face the unpleasant task of finding more bodies in
seaside and river debris.

The official number of deaths was, however, lowered on Saturday to 12 from

the previous day's toll of 16,

The impact of the flood was made worse because it struck so fast, giving
people little time to escape from their homes.

"I witnessed a mother and two children swept away in their home," local
resident Paul Lega told the Solomon Star newspaper. He described the
devastation as "the worst disaster the nation has seen".

Save the Children said on Friday that the scale of the damage was still unclear
outside Honiara as both bridges out of the city had been cut off. However, it
says that in the city itself thousands of homes have been completely washed
away.
 AFP

Entire houses have been washed away by the flood water

AFP

Many main roads in Guadalcanal have been shut due to high water levels
 AFP

The flooding followed days of heavy rain in the area

Australia has pledged at least A$50,000 (£27,900; $46,200) in funds to

support flood relief efforts.

New Zealand has given an initial contribution of NZ$300,000 (£154,500;

$256,200).

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully told the New Zealand Herald
that infrastructure and homes had been damaged.

Are you in the Solomon Islands? Have you been affected by the flooding
where you live? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'Solomon Islands' in
the subject
the subject.

Related Topics

Solomon Islands

More on this story

Solomon Islands country profile

31 May 2018

Deadly tsunami aer Solomons quake

6 February 2013

Related Internet Links

Solomon Islands prime minister

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