A US Navy helicopter has airlifted people from a Taiwanese fishing vessel that struck a reef while ferrying a medical team to assist tsunami victims in Solomon Islands.
The helicopter lifted about 16 Red Cross and medical staff and two injured tsunami victims from the ship and landed them on a playing field in Gizo.
An injured crew member was also rescued by the helicopter and taken to hospital at Munda.
Solomons police and Australian police serving with the Regional Assistance Mission helped coordinate the rescue.
