By RODRICK DESURI
Auki
Heavy rains and strong winds have left sick patients and their carers scrambling for shelter at the Kiluufi hospital yesterday [Jan 28].
Patients and guardians were queueing at the outpatient department to submit their cards and wait for their medical treatment when nature unleashed torrential rains and strong winds, reports reaching Island Sun said.
Herlison Aubongi, who was at the scene yesterday, described the incident as ‘quite chaotic’ as the sick patients, their carers and members of public frantically searched for any place within the hospital to take shelter.
He said when the heavy rain and strong winds struck, the people were moved all over the wards searching for a space to hide in the hospital.
“Here, the patients are worrying and suffering. To make it worse, strong winds with the rain struck them when they were queuing at the outpatient,” he said.
Solomon Islands has been placed under Orange Alert by the weather authorities as heavy rains and strong winds continue to be updated every day.
An active trough lies just south of the Solomon Islands and is linked to a tropical low located east of Vanuatu, the Meteorological Service (SIMS) said.
SIMS said westerly winds are expected to reach 20 to 25 knots, with gusts up to 30 knots over all waters of the Solomon Islands.
Warnings are also announced for potential floods and rough seas.