NUKU’ALOFA (Parliament Politics Magazine): Following Saturday’s volcanic eruption and tsunami, stories of survival are beginning to emerge from Tonga.
After telling a local radio station that he had to swim for more than a day to survive the tsunami, Lisala Folau’s story gained international attention.
Mr Folau, who is crippled, told the BBC on Friday of being swept out to sea and holding on to a log before swimming back to shore.
Three deaths have been confirmed in Tonga, but the extent of the devastation remains unknown.
The only undersea cable connecting Tonga to the rest of the world is crippled, rendering communications impossible.
Mr Folau told the BBC’s Newsday radio show that he was “scared” when he saw the wave coming towards him, but that he had faith in God to save him.
Meanwhile, relief has started to arrive, with more countries sending ships and planes to the country.
The first foreign significant assistance ship to land was from New Zealand, which arrived at Tongatapu on Friday. It was transporting 250,000 litres of water and had a desalination unit that can create 70,000 litres of water each day.
According to the United Nations, the Pacific nation’s top issue is access to clean water.
On the other hand, authorities announced on Friday that water tests on the main island confirmed that it is safe to drink.
“Some communities on Tongatapu have, however, lost access to drinking water. Drinking water is being delivered to the outer islands,” in its last update, the New Zealand government stated.
Despite reports of missing people, the dead toll has stayed at three to this point: two Tongan nationals and a British national, according to the statement.
The HMAS Adelaide, Australia’s largest ship, sailed from Sydney to Tonga on Friday. The ship can transport provisions to Tonga’s smaller outer islands using helicopters that may be deployed from the ship. It is expected to arrive in the middle of next week.
On Friday, the UK confirmed that the HMS Spey would be redeploying to the Tongan response, and that aid supplies would be dispatched ahead of the Australian ship.
“UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace said that the United Kingdom will work closely with Australia and New Zealand to assist with the rescue operation in Tonga, and it stands ready to support its long-standing Commonwealth partner.
The worldwide reaction was hindered in the days following the explosion by a layer of volcanic ash that formed a substantial barrier across the island.
To allow emergency relief flights to land, volunteers spent days painstakingly cleaning ash from the runway on Tongatapu’s main island.
The first two aircraft arrived on Thursday, bringing pallets of desalination tools, drinking water, hygiene, medical kits, shelter as well as telecommunications equipment from New Zealand and Australia.
Tongan officials have voiced worry about Covid being imported into the virus-free country, thus efforts have been made for contact-free distribution.
A second plane from Australia was forced to return to the ground in the middle of a trip on Thursday after a crew member tested positive for the virus.
The naval carriers are expected to deliver far more help.
Image via Reuters
