Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster

Earthquake and Tsunami hit Gizo and other islands

On April 2nd at 7.40 am a strong earthquake (8.1) occurred 45 kilometres from Gizo, followed within a few minutes by a tsunami which was experienced as a series of waves reaching at least three metres in height in Gizo, with larger waves experienced on other islands. In places such as Sasamunga in Choiseul, the water reached 500 metres inland. Over sixty smaller earthquakes continued over the next two days. The town of Gizo had some protection from the reef and faces away from the epicentre. Despite this, the damage was still huge from the water as well as the earthquake. Villages such as Titiana (pronounced "Sisiana") and New Manra (plus others) were exposed to the full onslaught of the waves and were largely or totally washed away.

"Nusabaruku- formerly a large village washed away & ruined"

Earthquake and tsunami in the Solomon Islands

by Penelope Kerr, (c) 2007

Background

The Solomon Islands is a group of approximately 1.000 islands situated to the North North East of Australia, stretching from the Santa Cruz Islands in the South East, close to Vanuatu, to the Shortland Islands approximately 5 nautical miles from Bougainville. The population is approximately half a million, 40% of whom are under 14 and 56% from 15 to 64 years. The median age is 19 years. ¹

The Solomon Islands: From the CIA World Fact Book

The country is poor with a gross domestic product per capita of US$600 (estimated 2005). Most Solomon Islanders depend on agriculture, fishing and forestry for their livelihood. The World Fact Book does not give an unemployment rate. With so many people engaged in subsistence farming and fishing, it is difficult to estimate. It is however safe to say that few people outside the major towns have much money. The ethnic tensions on Guadalcanal since 2000 have meant the scaling back of businesses associated with tourism which previously employed a substantial number of people. The worldwide downturn in the copra markets has also had a significant effect on village incomes. Paid employment is believed to be less than 10%.

The RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands) intervention in 2003 resulted in immediate improvement to law and order. Government salaries were at last paid and Government workers received assistance and training from their counterparts in the countries which were part of the Mission. However, there are still problems. For example, in August 2006, grant money given by the New Zealand Government to allow schools to buy paper, pencils, chalk and other supplies was nine months overdue. In April 2007, teachers at one school at least had not recently been paid their salaries. Hospitals depend on donations from overseas to keep up supplies of drugs and even goods like rubber gloves are often in short supply.

There are some towns (Honiara and Gizo are the largest) but most people live in villages on the many populated islands. Air transport is available between the main centres for those who can afford it. Local people normally travel by water, either on ferries or by canoe. There are few roads except in the main towns and the logging areas. In general, transport is extremely difficult and unreliable. For example, in 2006, no boat took passengers or goods from Gizo ( the nearest port) to the Shortland Islands for three months, despite their being many people and a great deal of cargo to be transported there.