Solomon Island struggles in flood aftermath

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: Relief aid has started to flow into Solomon Islands' capital, Honiara on Tuesday (April 8) as evacuation centres seek to cope with a growing number of people displaced in the devastating floods over the weekend.

At least 23 people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in flash flooding in the Solomon Islands on Friday (April 4), according to local media and aid agencies operating in the Pacific nation.

Staff with aid agency Save the Children in the capital Honiara said the flooding was the worst on record and had destroyed thousands of houses.

The 24 emergency evacuation centres in Honiara which are helping with those displaced, are doing so in very difficult conditions.

More than 400 of the 2,000 people at the Panatina shelter are aged under five, according to the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC).

Major infrastructure including the sewerage system have been badly damaged or destroyed, the ABC