8 Apr 2014

VSA in Solomons say flash floods came 'out of the blue'

12:12 pm on 8 April 2014

A New Zealand aid organisation in Solomon Islands says flooding that hit the country seemed to come out of the blue.

At least 23 people have died and many remain missing after flash floods tore through the main island of Guadalcanal, destroying much of the main town of Honiara last week.

Volunteer Service Abroad's programme manager in Solomons, Alexa Funnell, says the flooding came as a surprise.

"I don't think anyone anticipated this level of destruction in the city and this loss of life. In that sense it did come out of the blue. Honiara at this time of year from about November to April gets a lot of rain anyway and it can be quite consistent and so it wasn't that unusual and so I think for this to have happened now has been a real shock."

Volunteer Service Abroad's programme manager in Solomons, Alexa Funnell.