People at the Tamboko village in the western parts of Guadalcanal are seeking higher grounds to reside as high waters flood their area.
"This is the first ever biggest flood experienced by the people of our village," a Malaita man, Ronald Bava, married to a woman from Guadalcanal and residing at Tamboko village told Solomon Times.He said that the flood reached their village at about eight in the evening which was "pure luck for us because if it was in the middle of the night, there would have been a lot of reported deaths".
Mr. Bava said that families had to be evacuated out of the area at night, describing the night as "a very frightening experience for everyone".
"We heard the waters coming like a big machine from the back of the village where the Tamboko River runs down."
Mr. Bava blamed logging dumps behind the village as "the main cause" to flooding in their area.
He confirmed that three houses in their village were washed down with the flood along with belongings, including cooking utensils.
As a long time resident of Tamboko village, he said that the Cyclone Namu was nothing like the recent flood.
"This is the first time ever for us to experience such a big flood and we are now having a lot of problems with food," he adds.
Solomon Times understands that the National Disaster Council and Red Cross have visited the area "but it will take time for relief to reach us".
He said with crops damaged due to flooding, "we have nothing to eat and our only hope will be help coming from responsible agencies".
Mr. Bava said stocks and cargoes in village shops were destroyed in the flood.
The father of eight expressed his concerns over the well-being of his wife and children, "especially the younger ones".
He said relatives in Honiara are the ones helping his family in this situation while awaiting help from responsible authorities.
Mr. Bava said that lives after the floods will be like "starting all over again" for villagers "but that's life so we will just have to accept and build new houses and make new gardens".