OCHA Regional Office for Asia Pacific South Pacific Tsunami: 2 April 2007 Issued: 05 April 2007 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Regional Office for Asia Pacific (ROAP) Situation Executive Suite, 2nd Floor, UNCC Building An earthquake measuring 8.1 struck 345km northwest of the Rajdamnern Nok Ave, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara at 0740 local time on 2 April. (2040 http://ochaonline.un.org/roap GMT 1 April). The earthquake created a tsunami causing significant CHOISEUL damage in the Solomon Islands. The National Disaster Council (NDC) reports that the affected area includes Gizo, Simbo, Ranongga, Shortlands, Munda, Noro, Vella la SHORTLAND Sasamunga Vella, Kolombangarra and parts of the southern coast of Choiseul. Shortland Aerial surveillance shows that the worst-affected areas are the southern coast of Gizo, Simbo island and the central southern coast of Choiseul between Moli and Posarae as well as Sasamunga. The NDC puts the current death toll at 34, with several dozen more missing. 5,500 people are thought to have been displaced in total. Posarae The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) estimates that NDC estimates that 1,500 people are up to 50,000 people may be affected out of a total population of displaced on Gizo Island, most of whom 100,000 in Western and Choiseul provinces. are now living in make-shift settlements in the hills above Gizo town. The hospital Initial assessments indicate urgent needs including Food, Water & in Gizo is reportedly damaged beyond Sanitation, Shelter, Medical Supplies and Non-Food Items. use. A temporary hospital has been established and the worst-injured have Epicentre City or town Airport been evacuated to Honiara. VELLA LA VELLA Vella la Vella Response The NDC carried out an assessment mission KOLOMBANGARA The Government’s response is coordinated by the in Western Province on 2 April. The NDMO (National Disaster Management Office) assessment team included representatives and NDC, chaired by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Central Coordinating Group (CCG) is tasked of the NDMO, Government ministries, the by the NDC to consider operational issues and police department, the Red Cross, NZ Aid has established an operations centre in Munda. and UNDP. Detailed assessments are now RANONGGA GIZO expected to take place in other affected Kolombangarra areas. Gizo Noro The Ministry of Health will set up 8 PAPUA NEW GUINEA Earthquake: 2 April 2007 emergency field hospitals, including 4 in SIMBO hospitals and 4 in rural clinics. Each unit will cover the medical needs of 10,000 people Munda for 3 months. SOLOMON ISLANDS Honiara Following a request from the Government of Magnitude 8.1 the Solomon Islands, a UN Disaster and Datum: WGS84 7:40 local time Map data source: UN Cartographic Section, Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) team 2 April 2007 05025 arrived in Honiara on 5 April. Global Discovery, OCHA Situation Report, Hema Maps Kilometers The names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations Map Ref: OCHA_SLB_Tsunami_v1_070405.