Heavy rains late last week and over the weekend caused floods that damaged houses and washed away bridges and gardens.
Renata Kakae of Mataruka village told the Solomon Star newspaper that her husband, brother-in-law and two-year-old nephew were lost in the raging floodwaters.
“It happened so fast and all I can remember was that we were washed away by the flood from the river that runs not far from us,” she said from the National Referral Hospital in Honiara where she was taken by helicopter after being injured by a log in the floodwaters.
Kakae said her husband was washed away early on Friday morning and villagers later found his body and buried him.
She said her sister-in-law lost her husband and her two-year-old son in the floods.
The Solomons National Disaster Management Office, working with the Guadalcanal Provincial Disaster Committee, said initial reports were that eight people were missing, several were injured and there were three unconfirmed deaths.
Six teams in boats have been sent to assess the damage and begin aid relief, GPDC coordinator Herrick Savusi said.
A local police officer said it was still difficult for authorities to confirm the extent of the damage.
“We believe the number of injured, missing or dead could be more but because of the lack of resources we cannot confirm anything as yet,” the officer told the Star.
Villagers have been evacuated from the hardest hit areas and moved to the capital Honiara.
