BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhuanet) -- A tsunami wave
several meters high reportedly crashed into the west coast of the Solomon
Islands Monday morning following a strong undersea earthquake measuring 7.6 on
the Richter scale in the South Pacific Ocean, media reported.
At least four people were reported missing, local
officials said, as region-wide disaster warnings were issued.
"There were unconfirmed reports that two villages in
the country's far west were awash," CTA.CA quoted Julian McLeod of the Solomon
Islands National Disaster Management Office as saying.
"Two villages were reported to have been completely
inundated," McLeod told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio, "We have received
reports of four people missing."
Citing the U.S. Geological survey, the BBC said
the quake struck about 7:40 a.m. local time six miles below the surface, and was
centered about 220 miles west-northwest of the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara,
northeast to Australia.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio
quoted the Bureau of Meteorology as saying there is a possible tsunami threat to
the coast of Queensland state on Monday.
‘‘ The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii has also issued a
warning based only on the size of the quake.
A
tsunami, a Japanese word that translates as "harbor wave," is usually caused by
a sudden rise or fall of part of the earth's crust under or near the
ocean.
It is not a single wave, but a series of
waves that can travel across the ocean at speeds of more than 500 miles an hour.
As the tsunami enters the shallows of coastlines in its path, its velocity slows
but its height increases.
A tsunami that is just a few centimeters or meters
high from trough to crest can rear up to heights of 100 to 150 feet as it hits
the shore, striking with devastating force.
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