WELLINGTON, April 3 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand has made an initial 500,000 NZ dollars (350,000 U.S. dollars) contribution to the Solomon Islands as well as provided humanitarian supplies in the wake of Monday's earthquake and tsunami.

    New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Tuesday a Hercules that left Auckland for Honiara this morning was loaded with emergency supplies, including tarpaulins, blankets and water containers, as well as food and utensil kits and hurricane lamps from the New Zealand Red Cross.

    "The immediate focus is on saving lives and getting out to remote communities to assess the extent of the damage," said Peters.

    New Zealand is now working closely with the Solomon Islands government and "we expect to receive a formal request for assistance shortly, which will help shape the specifics of how our contribution will be spent," said Peters.

    A series of earthquakes, the largest reported registering 8.1 on the Richter Scale, struck the Western Province of Solomon Islands early Monday morning, triggering tsunami waves that caused further damage.

    Currently 13 people are confirmed dead but the death toll is expected to rise.