The confirmed death toll from flash floods in the Solomon Islands rose to nine Saturday and was expected to continue climbing, authorities said, as reports emerged of children swept away in swollen rivers.
"We have nine bodies and a lot of people are still missing," Dr Alex Munamua at the Solomons' National Referral Hospital told AFP.
Local media said about 30 people remained unaccounted for following Thursday's flooding.
As about 10,000 people packed into emergency shelters, the Red Cross secretary general in the Solomons, Joanne Zoleveke, described the devastation as "a tragedy none of us saw coming".
The city's main river, the Matanikau, burst its banks in a torrential tropical storm late Thursday, sweeping away riverside communities, bringing down bridges and inundating the downtown area.
"We were watching the river but never expected it to rise so fast. It took us by surprise. That is why there are deaths," Zoleveke said.
Local resident Paul Lega told the Solomon Star newspaper the river rose too fast for some families to escape.
"I witnessed a mother and two children swept away in their home," he said as the newspaper described the devastation as "the worst disaster the nation has seen".
World Vision's Emergency Response Manager in the Solomon Islands, Lawrence Hillary, told Fairfax News the organisation was particularly concerned about the welfare of children.
"My staff has witnessed a child being swept away by the floodwaters. They are devastated by what they have witnessed."
Aid workers feared outbreaks of disease in the sodden city and were waiting for Honiara's Henderson International Airport to reopen so emergency relief supplies could be flown in.
The flooding had cut off roads throughout Honiara and of the two main bridges crossing the Matanikau, one was washed away and the other was closed after large cracks appeared in the structure.
The loss of the bridges prevented officials from getting a look at the scale of destruction in outlying areas where landslides and floods were also reported.
As Solomon Islanders battled the floodwaters they were also shaken by a strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake late on Friday, but there were no reports of any damage.
AFP
Sat Apr 05 2014
![Death toll in Solomons flooding rises to nine Death toll in Solomons flooding rises to nine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-04/71396666503_295x200.jpg)
![Ahli Parlimen Machang mungkin digantung 6 bulan Ahli Parlimen Machang mungkin digantung 6 bulan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81705870474_WanAhmadFayhsalP.jpg)
Ahli Parlimen Machang mungkin digantung 6 bulan
Ahli Parlimen Machang, Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal berkemungkinan bakal digantung daripada menghadiri sidang Dewan Rakyat selama enam bulan.
Chelsea siasat laungan perkauman Enzo terhadap Perancis
Kelab bola sepak Chelase pada Rabu mengumumkan prosedur tatatertib ke atas pemain tengah mereka, Enzo Fernandez, susulan dakwaan telah mengeluarkan laungan bersifat perkauman terhadap Colombia, selepas memenangi Piala Copa America 2024 bersama skuad Argentina.
Lebih daripada 60 kanak-kanak ditahan, dipukul, diseksa di El Salvador
Lebih 60 kanak-kanak di El Salvador ditahan, diseksa dan dipukul secara rambang semenjak kerajaan mengisytiharkan darurat lebih dua tahun lalu untuk membanteras amalan gangsterime.
Datuk Bandar Paris berenang, yakin sungai Seine bersih
Datuk Bandar Paris, Anne Hidalgo berenang di Sungai Seine menjelang acara olimpik sebagai usaha menyakinkan orang ramai bahawa kualiti sungai tersebut cukup bersih dan bersedia untuk digunakan.
Biden akan tarik diri jika doktor dedahkan ada masalah kesihatan
Presiden Amerika Syarikat Joe Biden berkata beliau akan menarik diri daripada Pilihan Raya Presiden jika doktor mendedahkan beliau mempunyai masalah kesihatan.
Wanita racun lima orang kemudian bunuh diri
Seorang wanita berusia 56 tahun dipercayai meracuni lima pelancong Vietnam dengan sianida yang dihidangkan dalam cawan kemudian meminum racun itu sendiri di sebuah hotel mewah di Bangkok, menurut polis pada Rabu.
Sarawak tarik pelaburan RM4.2 bilion
Sarawak berjaya menarik RM4.2 bilion dalam pelaburan yang diluluskan pada suku pertama 2024, bahagian penting dalam Agenda Pertumbuhan Negara berikutan pelancaran Pelan Induk Perindustrian Baharu (NIMP) 2030.
RUU Perubatan (Pindaan) 2024 diluluskan
Rang Undang-Undang (RUU) Perubatan (Pindaan) 2024 bertujuan menambah baik peruntukan untuk melaksanakan proses kelulusan dan kepakaran pengamal perubatan, diluluskan di Dewan Rakyat hari ini.
Kerjasama dengan Ericsson mampu angkat Malaysia - PM Anwar
Kerjasama dengan Ericsson mampu angkat Malaysia - PM Anwar
Suspek dibebaskan dengan jaminan polis
Seorang pekebun lelaki yang direman bagi membantu siasatan kes dua beradik maut akibat termakan keropok beracun minggu lalu, akan tamat pada Khamis dan tidak akan disambung semula.