HONIARA (Solomon Star News / Pacific Media Watch / Radio NZ International / Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation / Pacific Scoop): Storm repair operations are underway in the Solomon Islands, parts of which were devastated by floods last week that claimed at least 21 lives.
The floods came after three days of rain caused the Mataniko River to burst its banks, says the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation.
According to Save the Children, long term damage includes the loss of farms, as well as about 37,000 people who are potentially homeless after their homes washed away.
Another 40 people, mostly children, are still missing.
Graham Kenna of Save the Children told RNZI that it was "by far the worst disaster" in the Solomon Islands in decades.
"The infrastructure has been destroyed here in the city, sewage lines are all broken from landslides or fallen trees, powerlines are down" said Kenna.
The capital city Honiara and some of Guadalcanal province have been declared disaster zones. RNZI reported yesterday that at least 25 percent of the people of Guadalcanal had been negatively affected by the flooding.
The Solomon Star News reported that 8000 people in the capital city have moved into emergency centres and that donations of food, water and clothing are needed for the displaced people.
Journalists on the paper reported finding men, women and children who had lived alongside the Mataniko river, braving high seas at the river mouth in a desperate attempt to retrieve "whatever remains of their homes they could get hold of".
Solomon Islands international airport opens again for relief planes
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Pacific Media Watch
