indian_foxhound
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A powerful earthquake off the Solomon Islands
generated a tsunami of about 5 feet that
damaged dozens of homes in the South Pacific
island chain on Wednesday, but authorities
cancelled warnings for tsunamis on more distant
coasts. Solomons officials reported two 4 foot, 11-inch)
waves hit the western side of Santa Cruz Island,
damaging around 50 homes and properties, said
George Herming, a spokesman for the Prime
Minister. There were no reports of injuries or
deaths. Villagers were heading for higher ground as a precaution, Mr. Herming said. The tsunami formed after an 8.0-magnitude
earthquake near Lata in Temotu province, the
easternmost province of the Solomons. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a
tsunami of about 3 feet was measured in Lata
wharf, in the Solomon Islands. The centre said an
11-centimetre wave was observed in
neighbouring Vanuatu. The centre cancelled earlier warnings for tsunami
waves further away. There was no immediate report of damages or
any accidents, said George Herming, a
spokesman for the Prime Minister. Weve been
hoping that reports will come in from the
responsible authorities ... very soon. The tsunami warning is in effect for the
Solomons, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea,
Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis
and Futuna. A tsunami watch is in effect for
American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and
eastern Indonesia. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck
81 kilometres west of Lata, at a depth of 5.8
kilometres. More than 50 people were killed and thousands
lost their homes in April 2007 when a
magnitude-8.1 quake hit the western Solomon
Islands, sending waves crashing into coastal
villages.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...olomon-islands/article4384987.ece/?secid=2780