Solomon Islands flooding kills 14 people and leaves thousands more homeless

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Flash floods in the Solomon Islands have killed 14 people and left thousands more homeless.

Government spokesman George Herming said Saturday that the death toll could rise further, with many people listed as missing. He said as many as 15,000 people have had their homes destroyed or made uninhabitable.

The South Pacific island nation is home to 600,000 people.

Herming said there were several days of rain before the Mataniko River in the capital, Honiara, burst its banks Thursday and flooded low-lying settlements alongside the river.

He said the flooding continued through Friday, and waters began to gradually recede Saturday.

New Zealand's government has pledged 300,000 New Zealand dollars ($258,000) to the relief effort.