Cyclone Raquel public to maintain safe hygiene practices, including hand washing and boiling water before drinking it. As a result of the torrential rain, flash flooding was reported on several of the islands, which resulted in widespread damage in Malaita, Western, Choiseul and Isabel provinces. In particular thousands of food gardens were extensively damaged or destroyed, including 40 thousand in Malaita Province alone. One person was killed after being hit by a falling tree while 16 others were missing at sea. The Gold Ridge Mine on the island of Guadalcanal was declared a disaster zone by the Solomon Islands Government during July
Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira hand” which the islanders urged Mendaña to eat. The islanders were offended when the Spanish refused. After building a small brigantine, the surrounding islands of Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira (which was named San Cristobal) and Choiseul Island were explored. However, the attempts to barter for food led to the same cycle of friendly welcome, misunderstandings, sullen retreats, occasional reconciliations, robberies and violent retaliation. Finally, at a council meeting of captains, pilots, soldiers and sailors on August 7, 1568, the decision was made to return to Peru. Mendaña had wanted to sail further south, while Sarmiento de Gamboa and several soldiers unsuccessfully