ABC Locals walk through floodwaters after days of heavy rain in the Solomon Islands, which caused flash flooding and the Mataniko River in Honiara to burst its banks, April 4, 2014. <\/p>\n
The Solomon Islands National Disaster Operations Committee has issued an all clear statement in the wake of devastating floods which swept through the capital <\/p>\n
A total of 23 people died and 9,000 are homeless after devastating floods, landslides and strong winds last week. <\/p>\n
The statement means that no further flood threat exists, and it is safe for people to move around. <\/p>\n
The Committee says those whose homes were not damaged or destroyed can return home, while those who have no place to return to should remain in evacuation centres. <\/p>\n
The statement comes as the chairman of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Council says Honiara needs reconstruction, not rehabilitation, in the wake of deadly flash floods. <\/p>\n
Permanent secretary Melchoir Mataki says that infrastructure needs to be rebuilt, not just repaired. <\/p>\n
\"At this stage what we need is reconstruction - mere rehabilitation will not work in the long term,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"It will be just a band-aid. <\/p>\n
\"What we need is reconstruction of roads and other infrastructure, bridges for example, that need to be done.\" <\/p>\n
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Solomon Islands National Disaster Council issues all clear in wake of deadly Honiara floods<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ABC Locals walk through floodwaters after days of heavy rain in the Solomon Islands, which caused flash flooding and the Mataniko River in Honiara to burst its banks, April 4, 2014. Continue reading