BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
A tsunami alert was sounded across Solomon Islands yesterday following a 8.7 mega-earthquake off Russia’s east coast, 10:25am Solomon time.
The tsunami alert was later cancelled at 10.50pm.
It started off as a yellow coded tsunami watch alert, but was then upgraded to an orange coded tsunami advisory alert by late afternoon for Western and Choiseul provinces. Isabel province was later included in the orange alert.
In parts of Choiseul fluctuating high and low tides at approximately 20–30-minute intervals were reported by villagers to Island Sun.
At Patubelo village, just few kilometres from the main village of Paqoe, villagers told Island Sun that they observed the sea rise higher than it normally does and then it receded back after nearly half an hour to levels lower than the usual low tide.
Villagers evacuated to high ground in the afternoon following instructions from community leaders. They told Island Sun last night that they will spend the night there and return in the morning when it is safe to do so.
In Choiseul’s provincial capital, Taro, a resident spoken to said most of the people had crossed over to the mainland in the late afternoon following alert notices by authorities.
The residents said they will return to Taro in the morning when it is safe.
Gizo town in the Western province was also evacuated with residents told to move to high ground.
By 10pm, reports from Gizo said no tsunami wave was reported.
The earthquake which triggered the tsunami struck just off Russia’s eastern coast at 10:25am Solomon time.
Tsunami waves reported between 3-4 metres struck along parts of Russia’s east coast. Several videos were circulated on social media showing flooded coastal towns.
A tsunami alert was sounded across most of the Pacific, including Solomon Islands.
No damage was reported in Solomon Islands before this report went to print last night.
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