'Heartbroken' Tongans wait for news from family after eruption, tsunami
Sunday, 16 January 2022
Ofa Fisiikava faces an anxious wait to hear how his grandmother and aunties fared in Tonga’s eruption and tsunami.
“We haven’t heard from them, because there are no networks,” said the 36-year-old Hamilton resident. “But it’s really terrible at the moment. I am just hoping my family is alright.
“I feel heartbroken, not only for my family but everyone. … We would like to be out there to help but unfortunately we can’t go out there.”
He’s one of many Tongans living in New Zealand and struggling to get news after the dual disaster of tsunami waves after a volcanic eruption on Saturday evening.
**READ MORE:
* Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next
* Tongan tsunami felt around the Pacific
* Tsunami waves crash through homes in Tonga after underwater volcano eruption
**
The waves struck about 6pm New Zealand time, and followed several eruptions of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai, located about 30 kilometres south-east of Fonuafo'ou Island.
The final eruption sent ash, steam and gas 20km into the air.
Even communications providers have struggled to reach the islands by satellite phone, but work is under way to restore links.
Fisiikava, who has lived in Hamilton since 2005, hadn’t been able to contact his grandmother and aunties, who were on an island hit by the tsunami.
He’d also seen a lot of messages on Facebook from others trying to contact family in Tonga.
Natural disasters like this have happened back home before, he said, but not this big.
He knows they’ve got to stay positive.
“We’ve got to keep our hopes up that everyone is safe but it’s going to take a while to recover, and for everyone to get on their feet.”
Another former Tongan resident Emma Bourne said it was very emotional watching the Pacific news on Sunday morning.
“We are sad and we pray for the people of Tonga.
“Everyone is trying to get hold of their families in Tonga, the fruit pickers were trying to ring this morning, I think they're trying to use a radio to talk to Tonga, hoping to get hold of their families.”
Bourne has been in the Waikato for more than 50 years and, while she doesn’t have any immediate family in Tonga, she does have relatives there.
“It’s a bit of a lonely time for us here, waiting to hear what is happening, we just have to wait and see.”
She said there are lots of prayers and love going to those in Tonga.
“It’s so sad. I am thinking of them, and hope things get better. It is the New Year, they have a new Prime Minister, families are getting their children ready for a new year of school.
“We like to get back once a year, but with the virus, we haven’t been able to. But we always plan to go to Tonga every year to swim in the lagoons, and children play on the white sand.”
Once things settle down, Bourne says they would like to organise donations to send to Tonga.
“We are just waiting to see what happens now, and they will tell us what they need.”
On Sunday morning, Civil Defence warned people to stay off New Zealand beaches and shore areas in many parts of New Zealand.
Tauranga City Council closed the base track of Mauao “due to strong and unpredictable surges following a large volcanic eruption in Tonga, as well as higher than normal swells generated by Cyclone Cody”.
The council will reassess the closure on Monday.
Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club on social media advised people to stay out of the water and off the beach.
Lifeguards were undertaking observational patrols between 10am and 6pm.
Tairua Marina’s fuel jetty suffered some damage overnight as a result of tidal surges.
A statement said fuel was turned off as a precaution and the jetty was closed to the public until further notice.
Also, the majority of channel markers have been pushed inside the marina by the surges and need to be relocated this week by the harbour master.