Floods devastate Solomon Islands

  • 10 years ago
This is Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, after the flash flash floods that have devastated much of the country.

At least 15 people have died.

The government says more than 50, 000 people have been affected by the disaster.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed.

Water supplies and other infrastructure have also been badly damaged.

Evacuation centre volunteers say people are arriving without the most basic of possessions.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) CASPER HAIRIU, HONIARA EVACUATION CENTRE VOLUNTEER, SAYING:

"Clothing, most families coming here come without clothes and medication things too...medicines, things like that."

Australia is sending two aircraft with emergency relief supplies.

Australian media reports say Canberra's also donating the equivalent of almost 280,000 U.S. dollars in emergency relief assistance.