Overseas Tongans Wait Anxiously for News after Volcano Eruption

Overseas Tongans are waiting anxiously for news of loved ones after a powerful volcanic eruption and tsunami severed communications with the kingdom in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Concerns among the 85,000-strong Tongan community in New Zealand were heightened on Monday by news it could be two weeks before communications are restored following the eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai on Saturday.

Besides leaving people in the dark about the fate of their loved ones, the lack of internet threatens Tongans reliant on money transfers from relatives overseas.

“I think the worst part is the blackout and the fact that we know nothing,” said Filipo Motulalo, a New Zealand-based journalist with Pacific Media Network. “There is no communication,” he added.

“Our home is among those close to the area that was flooded already so we don’t know how much damage there is.”

Shairana Ali, chief executive officer at Save the Children Fiji, told Al Jazeera from the Fijian capital of Suva that the situation in Tonga was “quite dire”.

“There is an immediate need for food and water because there is severe ash fall and as a result of that water sources have been contaminated in most of the islands that have been affected,” she said.

“We are concerned about air quality as well. And our concern is for children who would obviously have had mental trauma because of this once-in-a-lifetime event.”

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