Honiara, Solomon Islands [Kent Kingston; RECORD; CD EUDNews]. An Adventist village at Santa Cruz, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands, is one of five villages effectively destroyed by two earthquake-related tsunamis that hit the remote island on Wednesday.
According to Lata hospital, the official death toll now stands at eight. But the president of the Adventist Church in the Solomons, Pastor George Fafale, said the eventual number is likely to rise to 13 as bodies are found of people previously listed as missing. Two of those confirmed dead are the parents of an active Seventh-day Adventist church member in Santa Cruz.
According to Pastor Fafale, 200 Adventists are among the 2500 left homeless. “All their belongings were lost and they are now sheltered at the market open shed,” he said.
“The pastor’s office, and storage room under his house, were filled with water and all the equipment, such as PA system etc, was soaked in water. The church building was also filled with water and dirt and they lost all their church property such as furniture,” said Pastor Fafale. The children’s Sabbath School and activities shelter was also badly damaged and the church-owned outboard motor and fiberglass boat were washed away.
“The Adventist Church in the Solomon Island is praying for the people of Temotu, especially those who are affected by the tsunami,” said Pastor Fafale. “The Solomon Island Mission is organising an appeal program this weekend. We are now sending appeal notices to all the Adventist churches in Honiara and in the Solomon Star newspaper inviting people in the city of Honiara to come and give something for the affected people of Temotu.” The fundraising appeal will be held in the car park in front of Kukum Adventist church this Sunday at 7.00 am through to the next day, Monday 5.00 pm.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Solomon Islands is participating with other government and non-government agencies in the relief effort. Mr Joe Lovi, communication officer for ADRA Solomon Islands, said ADRA has supplied more than 20 bales of clothes and 1000 casks of bottled water, which departed from Honiara harbour today. There isalso a need for tarpaulins and jerry cans, essential items for which ADRA is trying to secure funding to supply.
Donations to ADRA Australia’s Famine and Disaster Relief Fund can be made at www.adra.org.au Donations earmarked for “Santa Cruz tsunami” will go directly to ADRA Solomon Islands for this purpose.
"Let us pray for our brothers and sisters affected by this terrible tsunami", so Corrado Cozzi, Communications Director in the Inter-European Region. "May the Lord comfort the families of the victims."