"A striking feature of the disaster is how the extent of damage varies among locations only a few miles apart, depending on their orientation, openness to the sea, and site topography. The reported epicentre of the quake was only 20-25 miles south of us. We got a big double bang and the strongest shake I can remember---very frightening, as those of you who have been in earthquakes will know---at 7.40am (in the middle of my second cup of tea) but the immediately following tsunami effect on us and our neighbouring small villages here inside the lagoon was much less destructive than its impact on open beaches and waterside houses and other structures, particularly those facing the origin of the waves. The tsunami that smashed into coastal areas at Simbo, Gizo and elsewhere had the effect with us of transforming the lagoon in to a fast-flowing, quickly-rising waterway that swept away anything unattached but did not do much damage to structures.

All the significant damage seems to be on the sea-coast and small harbours opening into the sea, where old, poorly built or particularly exposed structures were first shaken to bits by the quake and then finished off by the tidal wave, causing injuries to persons trapped inside and killing what now looks likely to be around fifty people. The low lying commercial and residential parts of Gizo are badly damaged physically and psychologically--traumatised is the word--and the town faces a substantial cost of relocation and repair of its older coastal and harbour side structures. Mund, which some of you will know, is much less affected in every way, despite being closer to, indeed looking straight out at, the epicentre SW of Rendova. We were there yesterday and people seem to be behaving normally, market open etc, though some coastal and inland buildings were damaged by the quake. Noro, where most dwellings are set on the long ridge above the port, has recovered quickly and seems to be functioning normally, with repairs underway at the overseas vessel berth. The Noro-Munda road is cut, but then that happens several times a year for other reasons.

Within the localised physical impact, the human devastation is also very focused. Most families even in the worst hit areas have come through without loss of life, but in cases where a family house was destroyed by the quake before people could get out, followed a few minutes later by the turbulent flood of sea water while people were still struggling to get escape from the collapsed house, several people in one family have died. The forty or so people known so far to have been killed are probably from only 12 or 15 families. I doubt if local food production has been much affected, as most gardens in the West and Choiseul are too far back and up from the sea to have been spoiled by saltwater inundation. Storage of imported food and other supplies, though, particularly in the habour side godowns in Gizo, has certainly suffered, and the disaster relief food supplies consist mainly of rice and tinned fish. The help people will be needing in the weeks ahead is with rebuilding their houses, and for that they will need land allocations.

- Dave Kerr, Diocese of Gizo

Fourteen days after the major earthquake and tsunami which devastated many parts of the Solomon Islands, Western Province, the World Youth Day Cross and Icon of our Lady spent a remarkable 24 hours bringing people of all ages together and allowed them some respite from the earthquake and tsunami which have been the total focus of everyone.

The Cross and the Icon was flown from Honiara to the local airstrip Nusatupe.  Due to rough weather conditions they could not be unpacked and assembled until it reached the shores of Gizo town. 

For about an hour before the Cross arrived, Gizo itself was remarkably empty.  Hundreds of people had gathered at the only intact wharf and there was more excitement and happiness that there has been for a fortnight.  Everyone was good natured, respectful and delighted with the experience.  Despite the extra smiles a sombreness still affected the people; the fact that 52 or more dead, still people still missing and thousands of homeless will continue to dampen the normal happiness for many months or even years yet.

The Cathedral has become a symbol of people and places badly damaged but not destroyed.  Although the tower and front of the Cathedral have been severely damaged, the glass cross in tower escaped destruction.  The WYD Cross was slowly raised in front of it to link the two Crosses, signifying a rising-up from the pain and the destruction that has been a very tangible part of the lives of the people.

The talented pan pipers from St. Dominic’s Rural Training Centre, Vanga led the parade from the wharf to the front of the battered Cathedral where Bishop Bernard O’Grady op, Bishop of Gizo welcomed it.  "We welcome the Cross and Mary his mother who stood by the Cross in his moments of suffering and

The Cross and the Icon was then taken to the side of the Cathedral where hundreds of people gathered in the open.   "All of us have been suffering very much.  Our suffering today is joined with the suffering of Christ and the Cross.  The Cross is the symbol of the reality that we have been going through and together with the Icon of our Blessed Mother, a very special painting, we celebrate reconciliation, peace, forgiveness, joy and hope", he said.  "It’s a special day for the youth of the Diocese as they join with the youth of the World in joy and celebration".  Earlier that morning, several hundred people had attended the open-air Mass at the same location.

It has been a memorable occasion, not only for the local people, but also for many of those providing aid, who remarked that the ‘pulling power’ of this simple but powerful Cross and Icon of Our Lady went a long way towards helping people as they slowly recover from the traumatic experiences and fears of further disasters as small tremors continue to rock the ground several times a day.