April 2, 2007

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake erupted in a South Pacific undersea fault line overnight, touching off a tsunami that has killed at least 12 in the Solomon Islands. Witnesses have told the Reuters news agency waves reached at least 32 feet high, wiping whole buildings and even a few villages into the sea.

This tsunami appears not to be as devastating as the 2004 catastrophe, which killed nearly 170,000 people in eleven countries. In the Solomons, Gizo Island appears to have suffered the worst damage, where at least seven perished and whole buildings were washed away. The tsunami struck the islands mid-morning, which Solomon Island officials say helped keep death tolls somewhat low as people were awake and could flee.

Once a British protectorate, the Solomon Islands have experienced significant civil unrest since gaining independence in 1978. International peacekeeping efforts have quelled violence for the most part and allowed some economic recovery since 2003. Given the Solomon Islands' struggle for stability, an international response to this disaster is expected.

RESPONSE: The Solomon Islands' recent unrest and its remote location make response to this disaster challenging. Church World Service will work with international response partner Action by Churches Together (ACT) to monitor the situation and explore the best routes to provide relief and recovery assistance.

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin (24/7), 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net