solomon island EDIS: King Tide Storm Surge - Walande Island - Solomon island

solomon island National Association of Radio-Distress Signalling and Infocommunications
Emergency and Disaster Information Services (EDIS)
Budapest Hungary


17/02/2009 - 04:15
King tides that hit parts of Malaita recently sent villagers on the artificial island of Walande packing. Sixteen homes, including a big church building, were reportedly destroyed and the whole village was evacuated to the mainland on Small Malaita. Now victims are calling for urgent relief assistance. Spokesman for Walande villagers Joseph Wane said the victims on their island need immediate help. “They are now in need of urgent shelter,” Mr Wane told the Solomon Star. The term king tide has no scientific definition although in popular usage it refers to any high tide well above average height. The popular concept is that the king tides are the higher high waters which occur around January. Mr Wane said on Walande, the king tides started on Saturday 7 to Tuesday 10 February, destroying 16 houses. He said sea rise with high waves broke the village’s sea wall washing through the village, destroying houses including a church building. Mr Wane added Walande is an artificial island and is exposed to ocean and vulnerable to high swells. He said sea level rise has been experienced in the past years, which forced half of the population from the island to move to the main land in the past years. Those who remained were now being hit by the recent king tides. “This latest tragedy has forced the whole village of more than 40 households to move to the mainland. The island is no longer safe to live on." “At the moment most of the villagers are living in makeshift tents on the mainland while some stay with relatives.” Mr Wane calls on the Malaita Disaster Office to send an assessment team to the area as soon as possible. He also appealed to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the public to assist the victims especially with building materials. “Food gardens are okay because they are on the main land, the immediate need is shelter,” Mr Wane said. Meanwhile, Malaita Provincial Disaster Officer Coordinator Pearson Simi said an assessment team would be sent to Walande today. He said his office received reports of only nine houses being destroyed. However, he said that would be confirm when the assessment team reaches Walande. Mr Simi added relief supply would also be sent with the assessment team. He said those affected were people that choose to remain on the island when tsunami like waves hit the area in 2004. “Half of the village have moved to the main land after the giant waves in 2004,” he said. Mr Simi also called on other villages on low land to take precaution if they see high seas or big waves. He said it is advisable to move to higher grounds during such events.)
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