Solomon Islands tsunami kills at least four people – latest report

An update less than an hour ago in Bloomberg says that a tsunami wave has killed at least four people as it crashed into the coast, prompting an alert for Australia and South Pacific island nations.

Five other people are missing, Julian Makaa of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office, said in a telephone interview from the capital, Honiara, today, with residents retreated to high ground as the tsunami swept through Gizo town damaging buildings, including a hotel, Robert Iroge, editor of the Solomons Star newspaper said by telephone from Honiara.

Judith Kennedy, a resident in Gizo, said, “water right up to your head” swept through the town, Associated Press reported, adding, “All the houses near the sea were flattened.’”

Report by The Mole