Posted on 02/06/2013 9:34:29 AM PST by topher
A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake off the Solomon Islands generated a tsunami of up to 5 feet that killed at least 5 people, a hospital official says, while the death toll is feared to rise as officials inspect dozens of damaged homes.
Authorities on Wednesday canceled warnings for tsunamis on more distant coasts.
Solomons officials reported two 1.5-meter (4 foot, 11 inch) waves hit the western side of Santa Cruz Island, damaging between 70 and 80 homes and properties, said George Herming, a spokesman for the prime minister. Many villagers of the South Pacific island chain had headed to higher ground as a precaution, Herming said. Dozens of aftershocks stronger than magnitude 5 followed the quake
Augustine Pilve, who is Lata hospital's director of nursing, told a New Zealand television station that five were killed, including a boy around 10 years old, Reuters reports.
Solomon Islands Police Commissioner John Lansley earlier said local police patrols had reported that several people were presumed dead, though the reports were still being verified.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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