eNews
RSS Feed now available! You can keep up to date with all the latest news from us simply by subscribing to our feed using your RSS news reader.
Solomon Islands Update
Just in from Honiara...
Solomon Islands has again hit the world headlines, for less than pleasant reasons. A series of earthquakes struck the country on Monday morning, with the centre of the quakes being in Western Province. We (Kevin & Machi) were in Western Province at the time, though still some distance from where the damage was the worst. Even so, we experienced the quakes that started at about 7:20 in the morning and continued for over two hours with a fair degree of severity. It was reported that during the day, a total of about 19 quakes were recorded ranging from about 5 on the Richter Scale up to 8.1.
Reports about damage and fatalities have been flying around, but because of the remoteness, accurate reports are not available for all areas yet. Gizo, the capital of Western Province, has been the hardest hit, with significant damage being done to many of the commercial buildings along the waterfront. Many villages were also affected by the tsunami that resulted from the earthquakes, and many houses have been washed away into the sea around Gizo, Simbo Island, and Choiseul Province. Villages in further away Mono and Shortlands also were affected. The Tsunami did reach Honiara, but it was down to about 10 centimetres when it finally arrived, and caused no damage here.
Even so, the town was almost deserted during the morning, and all shipping had gone into deeper water.
Reports indicate that about 20 people have lost their lives. Among them was a dear friend of ours, Rev Rollinson Zapo, the United Church Bishop, who was based in Gizo. He died when a beam in the house fell on him during the earthquake. Please remember his wife Janet and their family in your prayers.
Relief efforts are starting to get underway, with shelter and food being transported to Western Province. Not only were houses destroyed, but many gardens also, so food and fresh water are essential priorities.
On Tuesday afternoon, there is a meeting of NGO's to see how their efforts can be coordinated, and Machi is attending on behalf of our mission. Thank you again for the many prayers that are ascending to the throne for our still troubled nation, as well as for us personally.
Kevin & Machi Rietveld
CRCA Missionarys
SWIM Base, Honiara