Gizo residents in Western Province are bracing for possible tsunami impacts Wednesday evening after the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service issued an Orange Code Tsunami Advisory for Western, Choiseul, and Isabel provinces hours ago.
The advisory was triggered following a powerful 8.7 magnitude earthquake that struck off the east coast of Russia around 10:25am local time on Monday, sending tsunami waves as high as four metres to Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, according to Reuters.
Tsunami warnings have since been extended to Japan, Hawaii, and several Pacific nations, including the Solomon Islands.
In Gizo, precautionary measures were quickly put in place. The local market was closed early 4pm to allow vendors and town residents to return to their homes or evacuate to higher ground.
Authorities expect potential tsunami waves to reach Gizo between 5pm and 8pm Wednesday evening.
However in Gizo there’s no serious issue happening on the ground.
The Western Provincial Disaster Office, with support from the Western Provincial Government and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), have been coordinating evacuation efforts and advising all communities in low-lying coastal areas to move inland or to elevated areas for safety.
“People must not wait. Move to higher ground now and continue to listen out for official updates,” a spokesperson from the Disaster Office stated.
The memory of the deadly 2007 tsunami remains fresh for many in Gizo.
That disaster, triggered by an 8.1 magnitude undersea earthquake near the town, claimed the lives of 52 people and devastated many coastal villages.
While there are currently no confirmed reports of tsunami impacts in the Solomon Islands, the public is urged to remain vigilant and adhere to all safety instructions issued by authorities.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
