Tonga: Photos of tsunami damage shared from outer island, close to volcanic eruption
Monday, 17 January 2022
A resident of the outer Tongan islands group, close to the volcanic eruption, has been in touch with friends in New Zealand and shared images of the damage to the wharf.
The island is part of the Haʻapai group and is about 70 kilometres from the volcano that erupted for eight minutes on Saturday, raining ash and pumice down on neighbouring islands and causing a tsunami at least 1.2 metres high that flooded streets and buildings.
Family and friends in New Zealand have faced an anxious wait for news of their loved ones, especially in the outer islands where communication has been non-existent. About 8000 people live on Ha’apai.
But on Sunday afternoon Kilifi Havea finally heard from a friend who was able to communicate via internet in what Havea believed was the only connection available in the islands at present.
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**
The friend shared photos and video that showed the tsunami produced smaller waves than what was experienced on the mainland and damage was limited to the foreshore and wharf in the main settlement of Lifuka.
The friend had also heard from people on Uiha and Ha’ano islands who reported they had also received little damage.
They were even able to conduct a normal church service on Sunday, he told Havea.
The Christchurch Tongan, who has lived in New Zealand for 20 years, talked to his friends again via video link on Monday morning and was relieved to know his two aunties and uncles who also live in the islands were not affected.
However, Havea, 45, like many of the overseas Tongan community, was still facing an excruciating wait for news of his 65-year-old mother, Seini Latu Havea, who resides in the Tongan capital of Nuku-alofa.
Having last spoken to his mum on Saturday morning, Havea had been unable to sleep as he waited for confirmation she was not hurt.
During the call he had urged her to collect her passport and any other important documents and head to a family that lived higher on the island.
“She said ‘don’t worry – you know the island people. They’re not worried about it’.”
Since then Havea had been trying to find out any information he could from news sites and the extended Tongan community.
“I can’t concentrate at work.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said they still did not know the extent of the damage on the outer islands as communication was limited.
New Zealand planned to send a second aircraft, a C-130 Hercules, to Tonga on Monday.
Ardern said the plane would contain much-needed provisions. It follows the departure of an Orion plane tasked with assessing the impact of the tsunami and eruption.
Tonga was also sending navy vessels to the outer islands to assess the damage.
President of the Ashburton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Uliki Pongia, said the New Zealand Tongan community was devastated at the destruction the volcano and ensuing tsunami had caused.
“There are a lot of emotional feelings out there.”
Pongia had faced an agonising wait for news of his 78-year-old mother and two brothers and their families after last speaking to them on Saturday morning.
Also in Nuku-alofa, Pongia was concerned as he had been told most of the damage occurred on the mainland and at the capital.
With his mother unable to walk due to suffering a stroke, he had urged his family to move to higher ground as quickly as possible.
But the lack of communication out of Tonga was proving difficult.
“I don’t really mind about what has happened as long she survives.”
There have been no reports of fatalities as of Monday morning.