austraLasia #2569

Gizo earthquake-tsunami leaves thousands homeless

GIZO (SI): 5th January 2010 -- A 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the New Georgia island group (part of the Solomon Islands) which are part of Gizo Diocese under the care of Salesian Bishop Luciano Capelli. It is known that some 500 homes were affected, some destroyed.  The earthquake caused a minor tsunami which did not injure anybody but caused panic.
    The Bishop, writing immediately after the event, indicated that the Diocesan 'Peter's Boat', as it is called, has joined the relief operation to the islands of Rendova, Tetepare and Marovo lagoon, the most affected area.  A Solomon Island village home would house normally at least four or five people, so it is possible to make an initial guess as to the numbers of homeless, but further forays into this isolated area may reveal yet more damage.  There are just a few Catholic communities in the area, since much of that part of Gizo was evangelised by the Adventists and United Church.
    In April 2007, islands in the Gizo Diocese were hit by an even more powerful earthquake which killed 53 people and left thousands homeless, also destroying the Catholic Cathedral on Ghizo Island. Some of the Italian volunteers who helped with reconstruction were in the area yesterday and experienced firsthand what it means when a major earthquake hits these low-lying islands. But at least they had the satisfaction of seeing that their work (the cathedral and the kindergarten) stood strong.
    The earthquake was felt in Honiara but caused no damage there. It may also have been felt in the adjoining Salesian Diocese of Alotau PNG but we have no reports from there as yet.

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Title: australasia 2569
Subject and key words: EAO provinces PNG/SI
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2569