8.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hits South Pacicific and Tsunami Wave Hits the Solomons

A massive 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit the South Pacific. Since the initial earthquake there have been numerous aftershocks in the area as well. The undersea earthquake sent a tsunami crashing into the Solomon Islands.

Police and residents said a wave about 10 feet high struck the western town of Gizo, inundating buildings and causing widespread destruction. A man who answered the telephone at the Gizo police station said there were initial reports that eight people, six of them children, had been killed by the tsunami but they were still unconfirmed. The phone cut out abruptly before the man gave his name.

Gizo resident Judith Kennedy said water “right up to your head” swept through the town.

“The waves came up probably about 10 feet and swept through town,” he told Australia’s Nine Network television by telephone. “There’s a lot of water damage and a lot of debris floating around,” he added.

“Ten feet of water washing through town—you can imagine what damage it has done here.” (Breitbart)