Mum worried about Tongan family ‘cries everyday’ as supply-laden HMAS Adelaide heads to Tonga

At least four Tongans hoping to find family members they have not heard from following a volcano eruption were aboard the HMAS Adelaide as it left Brisbane overnight en route to the devastated pacific island nation.

At least four Tongans hoping to find family members they have not been able to contact following a volcano eruption were aboard the HMAS Adelaide as it left Brisbane overnight en route to the devastated pacific island nation.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) amphibious assault ship, also known as a Landing Helicopter Dock, arrived in Brisbane Wednesday to pick up humanitarian and medical supplies and some more military personnel, including Tongan Maritime Force midshipman, Paul Ulakai.

Ulakai, 21, from Tonga’s capital city of Nukuʻalofa, has been training with the RAN since March 2020, has not been able to contact his parents, Viola Ulakai and Tongan navy Captain Sione Ulakai, following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai underwater volcano on Saturday and ensuing tsunami.

Royal Australian Navy Leading Seaman Christine Fine, 26, is one of at least four Tongans on board the HMAS Adelaide as it heads to the devastated pacific island laden with humanitarian supplies. Picture: Supplied

He and RAN Leading Seaman Christine Fine, 26, are two of the three navy and one army personnel of Tongan heritage aboard the vessel as part of its humanitarian mission, dubbed Operation Tonga Assist 22.

LS Fine said her parents, Nita and Sione, now live in Mildura and had not been able to contact their relatives since the natural disaster occurred.

“All of my aunties and cousins are still there and we haven’t heard from them yet,” she said.

“They live on the main island. Mum thinks they’re OK but she is very worried.

“Most days I talked to her since I’ve sailed, she has cried.”

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai is an underwater volcano about 65km north of Tongatapu, the Kingdom of Tonga’s main island.

Its eruption on Saturday, believed to be the largest volcanic explosion of the 21st century, covered the island in layers of ash and dust and left the nation inaccessible.

The explosion also triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami that left three people dead and caused “significant damage” along the western coast of the main island of Tonga tapu, according to the New Zealand High Commission.

Major General Scott Winter, Commander Joint Task Force 637, at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal as HMAS Adelaide prepares to leave for Tonga. Picture: Tara Croser.

The natural disaster also severed underwater communication cables leaving family members around the world desperately trying to contact their loved ones to find out if they are safe.

A Communication Information Systems officer, LS Fine joined the HMAS Adelaide III in Sydney on Monday and said she was proud to be able to serve with the RAN while helping her parent’s native home.

“Obviously (what happened) was terrible news and being able to jump on board to help anywhere we can is an amazing opportunity,” she said.

“It makes me feel pride in going there and helping out the homeland.

“I also feel so much pride in being able to being in the Australian navy as well and being part of a bigger navy that can provide all these resources.”

LS Fine, who has siblings in the Logan and Toowoomba areas, said besides working, if permission was granted she would also try to find her mum and dad’s relatives to ensure they were safe.

Tongan Maritime Force midshipman, Paul Ulakai (left) with his parents, Viola Ulaka and Sione Ulakai and his sister, Anaseini Ulakai. Paul, 21, says he and his sister Anaseini, 22, have not yet been able to contact their parents in Tonga. Picture: Supplied

Most clean-up efforts in Tonga are expected to be led by locals to avoid any potential spread of Covid-19.

The main island recorded its first and only case of Covid-19 in November and has since managed to avoid an outbreak of the virus.

The HMAS Adelaide, which was also loaded with three chinook helicopters and engineering equipment to help with recovery efforts, is expected to arrive in Tonga in about a week.

The crew will join New Zealand ships and aircraft also assisting with the disaster relief efforts, with the first aid flights having arrived in Tonga Thursday.

A joint statement released by Australian Defence Minister, Peter Dutton, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, and International Development and Pacific Minister, Zed Seselja, said a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 aircraft delivered “essential” humanitarian supplies at the request of the Tongan government.

Royal Australian Navy Leading Seaman Christine Fine, 26, (right) is one of at least four Tongans on board the HMAS Adelaide as it heads to the pacific island nation laden with humanitarian supplies. She is pictured with her mother Nita, 59, sister Selina, 23, and father Sione, 65. Picture: Supplied

“The Australian Government’s supplies on the flight include shelter materials, hygiene supplies, (personal protective equipment) for people clearing ash and water containers, as well as communication equipment. Equipment also included a skid-steer loader with a sweeper to support runway operations,” the statement said.

“This assistance will help our partners the Tongan Government meet the Tongan community’s needs and support immediate clean-up efforts. Many homes have been destroyed and many people displaced by the tsunami.

|“The delivery of supplies today is part of the initial package of urgent humanitarian assistance. This is in addition to the Australian Government’s existing stores in Tonga, which are already being distributed to the most affected regions via two Guardian Class Patrol Boats and a landing craft … .”

The HMAS Adelaide embarks Australian Army CH-47 Chinook Heavy-Lift Helicopters before departing the Port of Brisbane, to provide humanitarian assistance to the Government of Tonga. Picture: Australian Defence Force

The statement said the planes were able to land thanks to Tongan authorities clearing a thick layer of volcanic ash from the runway at Tongatapu Fua’amotu International Airport.

Australia’s high commissioner to Tonga Rachael Moore described the damage from the volcanic eruption and tsunami, which wiped out most buildings on the smaller islands, as “catastrophic.”

She told ABC Radio on Thursday every single house on one of the smaller islands were destroyed while the tsunami also caused contamination of all freshwater sources.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is supporting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-led effort to support the Government of Tonga following the volcano eruption.

The ADF contribution, named Operation Tonga Assist 22, includes air reconnaissance using P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, airlift support using a C-17A Globemaster III and C-130J Hercules transport aircraft, as well as the HMAS Adelaide deployment.