An earthquake off the Solomon Islands created a small, but deadly tsunami on Wednesday that killed at least 5 people, according to reports.
The 8.0 magnitude earthquake, which struck near the town of Lata, on Santa Cruz in Temotu province, prompted watches and warnings for the Solomons and other South Pacific nations, according to the Associated Press.
A tsunami measuring 0.9m (3ft) then hit Lata on eastern Santa Cruz island, swamping the island's airport.
A tsunami warning was triggered for several Pacific nations, but was cancelled about two hours later.
Augustine Pilve, who is Lata hospital's director of nursing, told a New Zealand television station that five were killed, including a boy around 10 years old, Reuters reports.
Solomon Islands Police Commissioner John Lansley earlier said local police patrols had reported that several people were presumed dead, though the reports were still being verified.
"Sadly, we believe some people have lost their lives," he said. "At the moment we potentially know of four, but there may of course be more."
Robert Iroga, press secretary to the Solomons prime minister, told the BBC that the waves west of Lata had travelled some 500m inland, and that three villages had been damaged.
