Following the 8.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Solomon Islands on Wednesday, WSPA has deployed a Disaster Response Team to determine the impact of the disaster on the animal community and what type of response is required.
Continued aftershocks (more than 23 in total) exceeding 5.0 magnitude are worsening the situation and hampering current relief efforts. Preliminary reports indicate at least four villages have been hit, at least 50 homes destroyed, six deaths, and several people missing. Animal fatalities have been discovered amongst the tsunami debris and it is thought that hundreds of animals have been left injured or stray with virtually no access to veterinary care, food or water supplies.
WSPA is accompanied by Ritchie Dawson, chief inspector at the Wellington, New Zealand SPCA and is working closely with the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office.
Keep checking the blog for further updates from the field.
