After the tsunami, Tonga counts 3 deaths and houses destroyed; see before and after

At least three people died after a tsunami caused by a strong eruption hit the Pacific islands of Tonga last Saturday (15).

The information is the first official updates on what happened, which also destroyed all the houses on one of the islands in the archipelago, the local government said on Tuesday (18).

In the statement, the prime minister’s office confirmed the deaths of a 65-year-old woman from Mango Island, a 49-year-old man who was on Nomuka Island, as well as a 50-year-old British woman who died while trying to save their dogs.

Residences on Mango Island were completely flattened by the tsunami, while only two houses were able to stand on Fonoifua Island and there is “immense damage” on Nomuka Island, authorities reported.

The islands of Mango and Atata are about 70 and 50 km, respectively, from the Hunga volcano. Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, who was responsible for generating giant waves across the Pacific after its eruption.

Mango has around 50 inhabitants, while Atata has 100 – the island was also hit hard by the tsunami waves.

Communities covered in ash

A thick layer of ash covering entire communities on the island can be seen in the first images of Tonga, hit by what experts believe is the world’s biggest volcanic eruption in more than 30 years.

Aerial photos released by the New Zealand Defense Force of the Ha’apai Islands, central Tonga, show trees, houses and fields covered in ash – spewed out by the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai undersea volcano.

Satellite images show a similar scene in the capital’s Kolofo’ou district on the main island of Tonga, with trees and houses completely covered in volcanic debris. Some buildings appear to have collapsed and aid workers are now concerned about water contamination and food safety in the district.

But as Tonga’s first deaths from the natural disaster were confirmed and rescue operations continued, aid workers warned that the true scale of the destruction remains unknown.

Communications were severely affected by the disaster – with some smaller islands completely cut off.

Alexander Matheou, director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said that in addition to the ash there is “large-scale coastal damage as a result of the tsunami wave”.

“We are especially concerned about the low islands close to the eruption itself,” he added. “Right now, we know very little.”

The delivery of humanitarian aid to the country has been hampered by ash falling on the capital’s airport runway, according to officials from several donor countries.

New Zealand has sent two Royal Navy ships to the Pacific island nation, Defense Minister Peeni Henare said, adding that the boats would take three days to reach Tonga.

The two ships – including HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa – will carry a Seasprite helicopter as well as relief and humanitarian supplies, Peeni said.

“Water is among the highest priorities for Tonga at this stage and HMNZS Aotearoa can transport 250,000 liters and produce 70,000 liters per day through a desalination plant,” he added.

Significant damage was reported in Tonga, which is home to more than 100,000 people, with the majority living on the main island of Tongatapu. But the numbers are expected to rise as rescue teams work to restore lines of communication.

A major underwater communication cable connecting Tonga to Fiji is damaged, and repairs are not expected to begin until February 1.

“This cable is vitally important to Tonga for all its digital connectivity to the rest of the world,” said Southern Cross Cables Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Operations Dean Veverka.

*With information from Reuters