Residents missing as severe storms, flash floods hit Solomons Islands
Pastor Dale Morgan
Residents missing as severe storms, flash floods hit Solomons Islands*
HONIARA, Jan 21 (AFP) Jan 21, 2010
Many people are missing including Two children on Thursday as flooding
cut off parts of the Solomon Islands' most populated island and
authorities warned the situation was expected to worsen.
Police said they had evacuated around 60 people from the fringes of the
capital Honiara after the Lunga River broke its banks on the main island
of Guadalcanal.
"We're still in a volatile situation, according to the meteorological
information, we're in for a lot more rain," Solomon Islands police
commissioner Peter Marshall told a press conference.
An uncounted number of people, including two children were reported
missing late Wednesday after they were swept away while crossing the
Lunga River in a bid to escape rising floodwaters.
The boys' mother told local television in the South Pacific nation her
family was crossing the river from their home when they were hit by logs
and dragged under water.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service said a low depression was
affecting the east of the country and was expected to linger in the region.
Last year west Guadalcanal was badly affected by flash floods that
killed 11 people.