A commemoration programme is to be discussed for victims who lost their lives during the 2007 April 2nd tsunami striking Western Province.

When Island Sun Gizo approached the Deputy Premier for Western Province Hon Maloney Lopoto yesterday to discuss over this subject, he approved it and said he shall present it in the paper to the executive.

“I shall present it in the paper today to the provincial government executive so that a remembrance programme should take place at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Building next month during the same time of the disasters occurrence,” said Hon Lopoto.

“This is a bridge building activity and we will try to organize it so that we will have a special programme in remembering the victims of the natural disaster then,” he said.

The 2007 Solomon Islands earthquake took place on 2nd April near the provincial capital of Western Province.

Its magnitude was calculated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as being at 8.1 on the moment magnitude scale.

The tsunami that followed the earthquake killed 52 people in total.

According to the USGS, the earthquake was recorded around 7:39:56 a.m. local time (UTC+11).

The focus was 10 km (6 mi) deep and 40 km (25 mi) south South-East of Gizo township on New Georgia Islands.

There were numerous aftershocks, the largest of which had a magnitude of 6.2.

Locals who learnt of this idea for such a programme to take place expressed their appreciation.

“There is a must for such programme to take place so that we will commemorate our loved ones who lost their lives during that time of tragic incident,” said Mr Siope Starfile on behalf of Gizo Malakerava 1 locals speaking to this paper yesterday.

Further comment’s to get from the Western Province Premier to elaborate over such programme was unsuccessful because he is currently overseas and should be expected back later this week.