7 Apr 2014

Solomons death toll likely to be higher

10:00 pm on 7 April 2014

The search for more victims of the Solomon Islands flash flooding stepped up on Monday, with predictions the death toll could reach 100.

The official toll remains at 21, some of which were children swept out to sea watched helplessly by their families. Dozens of people remain unaccounted for.

A severe tropical storm hit the islands on Thursday, leaving 21 people dead and many missing. In the capital Honiara, on Guadalcanal island, houses collapsed into the flooded Mataniko River and the downtown area was inundated.

Families sheltering at the Panatina Pavilion evacuation centre in Honiara.

Families sheltering at the Panatina Pavilion evacuation centre in Honiara. Photo: AFP / World Vision / Rachel Skeates

Urgently-needed supplies are being airlifted to the Pacific nation where thousands of people are sheltering in evacuation centres.

The National Disaster Management Office estimates that food supplies that have been distributed to the centres will only last until Tuesday.

Aid agencies, including Save the Children and UNICEF, are calling for urgent donations of money and supplies to help displaced people.

New Zealand's acting high commissioner to Solomon Islands, Sarah Wong, says the death toll is expected to rise. She said the Government and local authorities under real pressure as they deal with the aftermath of the floods.

"They do have the capacity but like every organisation here they are under immense pressure because their own personnel have been affected personally by this crisis."

Ms Wong said essential items were in short supply and a New Zealand Hercules was bringing tarpaulins, water bottles, medicines, mosquito nets, building tools, kitchen sets and blankets.

Radio New Zealand correspondent Dorothy Wickham says as many as 80 others may still be missing, but it will be difficult establishing the correct numbers.

"We have a lot of illegal settlements around Honiara and that is one of the reasons why it is very difficult to pin down numbers at this point. And we are not very good with statistics, as you know. I don't think our last census was very accurate either.

"It is going to have to come back to each family member to come forward and say, 'We've got this number of people missing - we had so many people in our house on that day and on that hour'. We have got people moving in from the provinces on a daily basis here, so it is going to be difficult to pin down numbers."

Houses teetering on the banks of the Mataniko River in Honiara.

Houses teetering on the banks of the Mataniko River in Honiara. Photo: AFP / World Vision / Rachel Skeates

NZ sends aid

A New Zealand Air Force Hercules left Whenuapai air base at 9.30am on Monday taking supplies to the Solomon Islands.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said flooding had destroyed much of the capital's infrastructure and a helicopter would be used to transport some of the supplies to and from the airport.

Prime Minister John Key said aid to the Solomon Islands will be a long-term effort. Mr Key told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme New Zealand has a long-standing relationship with the Pacific nation including its involvement with the RAMSI mission. "It's not just in the weeks but the months and years afterwards that really matters," he said.

New Zealand pledged initial financial aid of $300,000 and Mr Key rejected Labour Party claims the amount was insufficient and aid was taking too long to arrive. He said initial resources were directed to aid agencies on the ground and full information is still emerging on what is required.

An Australian Air Force plane landed in Honiara on Sunday bringing a medical team that will visit evacuation centres to try to stop diseases from spreading, an aid agency said.

Save the Children emergencies manager Graham Kenna said diarrhoeal illnesses are occurring and dengue fever, already a problem in the islands, will re-emerge.

"It's going to be a major issue in seven to ten days when the place dries out and these mosquitos come out again. I am personally quite frightened about how the situation is going to be."

UNICEF's water, sanitation and hygiene specialist in Honiara, Donald Burgess, said there were cases of acute respiratory infection among people at overcrowded camps.

Thousands of children affected - UN

The United Nations children's support agency estimates that 26,000 children have been affected by the extreme flooding.

UNICEF said they are especially susceptible to disease, due to a lack of food and weak immune systems. They have also suffered huge trauma and will need intense support.

Traffic was controlled on Mataniko Bridge in Honiara amid concern it could collapse.

Traffic was controlled on Mataniko Bridge in Honiara amid concern it could collapse. Photo: AFP / Dorothy Wickham