SYDNEY - A powerful earthquake off the Solomon Islands generated a tsunami of up to 1.5 metres that damaged dozens of homes and likely killed several people in the South Pacific island chain on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
Authorities cancelled warnings for tsunamis on more distant coasts. <\/p>\n
Solomons officials reported two 1.5-metre waves hit the western side of Santa Cruz Island, damaging around 50 homes and properties, said George Herming, a spokesman for the prime minister. Many villagers had headed to higher ground as a precaution, Herming said. <\/p>\n
Solomon Islands Police Commissioner John Lansley said local police patrols had reported that several people were presumed dead, though the reports were still being verified. <\/p>\n
\"Sadly, we believe some people have lost their lives,\" he said. \"At the moment we potentially know of four, but there may of course be more.\" <\/p>\n
Four villages on Santa Cruz were impacted by the waves, with two facing severe damage, Lansley said. Other areas of the Solomons did not appear to have been seriously affected. <\/p>\n
The tsunami formed after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Lata on Santa Cruz in Temotu province, the easternmost province of the Solomons, about a three-hour flight from the capital, Honiara. The region has a population of around 30,000 people. <\/p>\n
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami of about a metre was measured in Lata wharf, in the Solomon Islands. Smaller waves were recorded in Vanuatu and New Caledonia. <\/p>\n
The centre cancelled earlier warnings for tsunami waves further away. <\/p>\n
Richard Dapo, a school principal on an island near Santa Cruz, said he lives inland but has been fielding calls from families on the coast whose homes have been damaged by the waves. <\/p>\n
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Small tsunami damages homes in Solomon Islands; 4 believed killed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SYDNEY - A powerful earthquake off the Solomon Islands generated a tsunami of up to 1.5 metres that damaged dozens of homes and likely killed several people in the South Pacific island chain on Wednesday. Continue reading