An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 occurred 33km southwest of the Santa Cruz Islands at an ocean depth of 28.7km, generating tsunami waves that engulfed the Nende Island's western shores where the main provincial town of Lata is located.

Rachel Lano from Venga village said,"We're living under tarpaulins, but we have had lots of rain and the tarpaulins can leak," she said. "We have a problem with water and sanitation and we're just living on rice. We are too afraid to go down to our gardens and get vegetables."

According to World Vision, which has been on the ground assisting with relief work, the west coast of the island has been worst affected, many homes washed away. Elsewhere on the island, communities are suffering the effects of the earthquake and landslides which have destroyed food gardens and contaminated water sources.

More than 3000 people have been displaced and many remain under temporary shelter. Many villagers are hesitant to return to coastal areas in the middle of the cyclone season, fearing further damage before the wet season finishes.

George Baragamu, the National Distaster Management Office chief operations officer, told the Auckland's Weekend Herald the province was still an active disaster area, but with assessments done the Government was now planning for the recovery phase.

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• Image:The Guardian

Hundreds of people and leaders attended the service, which coincided with the half-day public holiday the Government declared for Wednesday.

Speaking at the service, deputy prime minister and Minister for Homes Affairs Manasseh Maelanga said the remembrance service was a manifestation of the national solidarity that is enshrined in the national anthem.

He told relatives of those who lost their lives that they are not alone in this national tragedy.

School children lit candles for the deceased and a provincial representative told the story of one of the victims.

"(She) saw the fierce rolling ocean approaching in the form of a destructive wave," he said.

"It looked so dangerous but (she) could not bear to see her husband killed alone so she told the eyewitnesses to run for safety, while she went back to die with her husband."

Source

• SolomonStar
• Radio Australia
• Image: Static.stuff.nz