Thousands flee to hilltops after earthquake, tsunami warning
THOUSANDS of Honiara residents evacuated to the higher grounds after a 7.4 underwater earthquake caused havoc and fear which led a late tsunami warning.
The quake struck before midnight, Sunday night.
Following quake and tsunami warning men, women, children loaded up both public and private vehicles and headed for the hills after the earthquake a little after midnight on Sunday.
Many were standing up the Tanakake Hill (Panatina) all the way to Mbaranaba, others at Kola Ridge, Mbokonavera, Skyline, Lengakiki all the way down to White River.
Speaking to this paper, many of the evacuees said they left their homes, their properties and just fled for their lives after the warning was given out.
“Like the one on Sunday morning, this one shook longer.
“We know that a warning was going to be given, so before waiting for such a warning we just fled, leaving all our belongs and our houses open and just fled,” a resident of Ranadi said.
Others said that following the disastrous flash floods that struck Honiara early this month, they are still traumatized, adding that any small natural disaster or happenings will trigger them to evacuate as soon as possible.
“We have lost relatives in the floods and all our properties, now this tsunami warning, no one of us would want to take any chances again and stay at home beside the river.
“All we had to do was run as fast as we could to the highest mountain,” another resident of Vara Creek said.
Those were the similar responses of most of the people that fled their homes thinking a tsunami would strike Honiara.
Meanwhile all Honiara residents are again reminded to be prepared in the case of a disaster would strike again.
By JEREMY INIFIRI
