Display listing of nearby tsunami events

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... 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.In Honiara, the warnings prompted residents to flee for higher ground... Four villages on Santa Cruz were impacted by the waves, with two facing severe damage, Lansley said. Other areas of the Solomons did not appear to have been seriously affected. (reference #10441)

The sea surge following the earthquake cut water and electricity and forced about 4,000 people, including 20 World Vision staff members, to move to central Lata, about 150 meters above sea level, the aid agency said in an e-mailed statement. Government officials confirmed four people were killed and some may be missing, World Vision said. (reference #10442)