[Archyde.com]–One week following the great eruption of a submarine volcano and the tsunami, inhabitants of Tonga, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, still suffer from volcanic ash and have not healed their emotional wounds. The Internet is almost unreachable, and the use of telephones is still restricted, making it difficult to contact the outside world.
The International Red Cross supplies tents, food, water, toilets, etc. to 173 households living in Tongatapu Island, the capital city, and also provides psychological care to the residents.
“Everyone is still in trouble now,” said Drew Hubea, deputy representative of the Tonga Red Cross. Because of the ashes, “No house keeps children playing outside, always staying indoors.”
Some residents fled to Tongatapu from the most damaged remote island of Ha’apai, while others refused to escape. The village is in a state of devastation due to the tsunami, and Mr. Babea sees for a while that psychological effects will cast a shadow over the lives of the islanders.
According to Xàbia, there are other concerns that the Tongan people have in common.
“All the children were taught in geography lessons that we live in the Ring of Fire and grew up. Now I’m getting more anxious and’how active is this area?’ I think I’m starting to think regarding it. “
Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano is located in the active ring of fire. This time, a tsunami rushed all over the Pacific Ocean, and the sound of an eruption was heard even in New Zealand, regarding 2,300 kilometers away.
Since the eruption was so powerful, it was observed by artificial satellites that the shock waves radiated through the atmosphere at a speed close to the speed of sound, in addition to the huge eruption.
John Tuquaf, owner of Bakaroa Beach Resort, recalled the eruption and said, “I thought the world would end.” This beach is located in Tongatapu Island’s most devastated Kanokpol, and is now covered with uprooted trees and debris.
“I think the whole island is shocked,” Mary Lynn Rajsku, editor-in-chief of the news site Matangi Tonga Online, told Archyde.com on the 23rd.
Many took a week to recover from the “vibrating, horrifying” sounds. “The sound was so loud that it didn’t come into my ears, but I might feel it with my body. The house shook the windows, it got louder and louder, and there was an explosion,” some residents testify.
According to Fonua, residents are looking forward to raining and washing away the “unpleasant and frustrating” volcanic dust. The leaves of the tree turn brown and fall from the branches.
Mr. Fonua was in the office by the sea when the tsunami struck. I was talking on the phone with my son in New Zealand.
The call was interrupted, and his son was worried that Mr. Fonua was swept away by the tsunami. Many Tongan people living abroad were left in a situation where the safety of their families might not be confirmed for several days until the international call communication was restored, albeit slightly.
Fonua said the inhabitants separated from the world immediately began rescue operations. Some older people testified that the young people took action instead of looking at the screen because smartphones became unusable.
Electricity was restored for the first time in a week, and the website of Matangi Tonga posted an article for the first time following the eruption and tsunami on the 22nd. We covered the news that lapilli fell and the tsunami swallowed a car.
Still, Mr. Fonua’s office is still unable to send e-mail and needs to expand its satellite communications capacity.
It is said that foreign military vessels and aircraft carried the supplies and communication equipment that are indispensable for daily life.
（Kirsty Needham記者）
