Latest Tonga news: Three dead and all homes destroyed on one island, says government

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Underwater Tonga volcanic eruption caused a tsunami picked up by a space moon

The government has confirmed the deaths of three people in Tonga – including a British national – and all homes destroyed on one island, after an underwater volcanic eruption and tsunami on Saturday devastated the Polynesian nation.

Telecommunications chiefs say the islands could be cut off from the world for weeks, after an undersea cable was cut and the eruption of the Hong Tonga-Hung Hapai volcano blanketed the country in ash.

Fears of a possible humanitarian crisis are growing in Tonga as details of the damage caused by Saturday’s natural disaster are known.

Samuela Fonua, president of the state-owned Tonga Cable Company that owns and operates the cable, told the Guardian that repairs to repair the damage could take two weeks, but warned of the threat of continued volcanic activity for efforts that might need to enter the Tongatapu waters near the site of the eruption.

New Zealand and Australia have conducted reconnaissance flights to assess damage with images revealing Tonga is covered in a blanket of ash, hampering relief efforts as the country’s airport runways have been compromised.

The Acting New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga, Peter Lund, said the local government had declared a state of emergency.

Key PointsShow Last Updated 1642522366

That’s all in our coverage of the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga today.

Thank you for reading our live updates and for more news on Tonga, click here.

Furfa Shah Jan 18 2022 16:12

1642521566 Tonga and Tsunuma volcanoes: what we know so far

The eruption of an underwater volcano in Tonga caused widespread devastation in the Polynesian country and its islands.

The eruptions of the Hungaja, Tonga, Honga and Hapai volcanoes triggered a tsunami around the world on Saturday, affecting countries such as Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

The initial explosion could be seen by satellites in space, and the extent of the impact on the country – located near Fiji, New Zealand and Australia – was not understood due to limited communication.

The blast cut an undersea communications cable, resulting in little or no contact with Tonga residents and aid workers since the tsunami disaster.

Australia and New Zealand are in the process of sending relief supplies to the nation, and a humanitarian crisis is likely.

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 15:59

Pictures before and after Tonga volcano show damage scale

Photos before and after the aftermath of the volcanic eruption in Tonga show the extent of the devastation inflicted on the Polynesian country.

Volcanic ash and fumes overflowed the country’s small islands and devastated local communities, with all homes on Mango Island destroyed by the eruption and the ensuing tsunami.

Monitoring images of the plane published by The Telegraph show what experts expect to be the beginnings of a climate problem and a humanitarian crisis.

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 15:31

Health warning issues regarding volcanic ash

Tonga residents were advised to stay indoors after the volcanic eruption sent ash fall over the country’s islands.

Gas, smoke and debris from the underwater volcano erupted up to 20 kilometers into the sky, and while volcanic activity has significantly decreased, the government continues to monitor the situation.

Locals advised to drink bottled water and wear masks if they go outside to avoid breathing in volcanic ash.

Tonga’s deputy chief of mission in Australia, Curtis Tuyalangenge, told the BBC: “There will be health concerns because people are breathing it in, especially with a huge clean-up mission happening in Tonga now.

“About 200 volunteers, people come to clean the tarmac. We have to do that but we know there will be a long-term problem because people are breathing in this ash, which is very dangerous.”

Volunteers sweep the airport runways to allow aid from other countries to reach Tonga.

Furfa Shah Jan 18 2022 15:05

More than $375,000 raised for Tonga relief

More than $375,000 has been raised to assist relief efforts in Tonga in the wake of the country’s volcanic eruption and tsunami.

GoFundMe set up by Olympic Games in Tonga, Peta Tofatovwa, has received over 7,000 donations in just two days.

The ongoing fundraising campaign aims to raise funds to provide assistance to those affected by a natural disaster and aid in immediate relief efforts.

The fundraising goal is to raise A$1 million for this cause and to publish regular updates on the situation in Tonga.

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 14:45

Olympian Tonga has been unable to contact family since the tsunami

Tongan Olympic athlete Peta Tofatovwa has not been able to contact his family since the tsunami hit the province.

Mr. Taufatofua, a bi-athlete in taekwondo and cross-country skiing, is among the many who have been unable to contact loved ones in Tongo since he lost touch with the country after the volcanic eruption.

He said on Twitter on January 15: “No word from my father or family in Haapai. All communications in Tonga are cut off.”

Peta Tofatovwa, pictured right leading the Tonga team during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has not been able to contact his loved ones since the natural disaster.

(Getty Images)

In a subsequent tweet, he said, “Many Tonga residents around the world are in exactly the same situation as me, and are thinking about contacting their families on the islands and can’t contact them. My situation is not unique.”

Mr Taufatofua, who currently lives in Brisbane, Australia, is still unable to speak with his father – who he says is the ruler of the Ha’apai, a group of Tonga islands – or other family members.

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 14:15

Scientists say the eruption of the Tonga volcano could harm the environment for years

Scientists say the impact of a volcanic eruption in Tonga could harm local coral reefs, fisheries and coastlines for years to come.

Since the initial eruption on January 15, the volcano has released fumes of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that can lead to acid rain when in contact with water and oxygen into the atmosphere.

“It is likely that there will be acid rain around Tonga for a while” due to Tonga’s tropical climate, volcanologist Shane Cronin of the University of Auckland told Reuters.

Acid rain can cause widespread damage to crops, potentially destroying Tonga staples such as taro, corn, bananas and garden vegetables.

In the ocean, ash from a volcanic eruption can be toxic to marine and marine life.

Coral reefs and coastlines can also be affected, as the eruption causes more destructive iron to be released into the water, and subsequent tsunamis erode coastlines.

This is particularly worrying for Tonga, where climate change is raising sea levels by about six millimeters per year – twice the global average, according to Reuters.

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 13:50

1642511714 Hundreds of Bitcoin Donations Made for Relief Funds in Tonga

Hundreds of Bitcoin donations have been made to the Tonga Relief Fund that was set up to aid recovery efforts after a natural disaster.

The fund was set up by Tongan politician and crypto advocate Lord Fositwa, and the BTC wallet received more than $40,000 through 250 separate donations within three days of going live.

Anthony Cuthbertson has the full story:

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 13:15

1642511004 China donates $100,000 to relief efforts in Tonga

The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, sent his condolences to the government and people of Tonga, and said that the Chinese Red Cross Society will donate $100,000 in humanitarian aid to the country.

They said, “We will provide assistance to the best of our ability based on the situation and the needs of Tonga.”

“We are ready to help the government and people of Tonga overcome this disaster and rebuild their homeland to the best of our abilities,” said the country’s Assistant Foreign Minister, Hua Chunying.

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 13:03

The Tonga government issued its first official statement after the disaster, confirming three casualties

The government of Tonga issued its first official statement after the volcanic eruption and tsunami that devastated the country.

The government has confirmed three casualties, including 50-year-old British national Angela Glover, a 65-year-old woman from Mango Island and a 49-year-old man from Nomoka Island. A number of injuries have also been reported.

Emergency assistance teams are prioritizing assistance to the islands of Mango, Nomoka and Fonivua as all are reported to have sustained severe damage, with all homes destroyed on Mango Island and only two remaining on Fonuevoa.

The country also reported severe disruption to local and international communication and internet services, due to an underwater cable being cut. As of January 18, some connections are made with the islands of Vavau and Hapai and local calls operate within the Tongatapu and Iowa islands.

Evacuations are underway on the affected islands, and challenges to sea and air travel remain due to the scale of damage caused by the blast.

“While the tsunami warning has been rescinded and volcanic activity has significantly decreased, monitoring efforts continue,” they said.

Farwa Shah Jan 18 2022 11:56

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