Officials confirm landslides, huge cracks in ground

At least 20,000 people in remote communities in Solomon Islands have been seriously impacted by the series of earthquakes that struck off the south coast of Guadalcanal from Tuesday afternoon through to yesterday morning. The largest quake measured magnitude 7 at about 15km deep, just after 1pm Tuesday, local time. Disaster management officials in the province have confirmed reports of tidal surges, landslides, collapsed and damaged houses and huge cracks in the ground. Provincial disaster officer James Tiva is working with the national emergency operations centre to try to get help to the affected communities. ‘‘We have received reports of damage to water sources, fear of contamination due to more landsliding,’’ he said. ‘‘In almost all the villages a good number of the houses are damaged. Most residents are living in fear because of the trenches, a lot of cracks in the villages.’’ Tiva said a full assessment was expected in the next day or so. –