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February 6, 2013. At least five killed in earthquake, tsunami in the Solomon Islands

SOURCE: Kroll

At least five people were killed and three others injured after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake triggered a tsunami that hit the Santa Cruz islands of the Solomon Islands, reports indicated on February 6th. The tsunami reached 1.5m (5ft) on the western coast of Santa Cruz and 90cm (3ft) struck Lata (Nendo), the main town on Santa Cruz. Large waves reportedly traveled some 500m (1,640ft) inland and damaged as many as four villages. Police officers were deployed to the area with officials prioritizing the supply of aid. At least 60 homes were damaged by the earthquake or tsunami.

The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across much of the Pacific Ocean, although it was canceled two hours later. Warnings were issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, and Wallis and Futuna Islands. In Fiji's Suva, local residents rushed to higher ground after the tsunami alert was issued. Residents of Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, also fled to higher grounds after the alert was issued. Officials in Vanuatu reported no significant damages or injuries in the country.