Cairns Tongan community rallies following disaster on tiny nation
Waiting for news of loved ones as the tiny Pacific nation of Tonga is cut off following a volcanic eruption which triggered a tsunami, the Cairns Tongan community hopes and prays.
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THE Cairns Tongan community has come together to support each other as they desperately wait for news of family and friends impacted by the devastating tsunami on Saturday.
Kainga Tonga ‘o Cairns president Soana Thomsen said the small but tightly-knit community has rallied to provide support as they wait for news from 4000km away.
“We are taking comfort in the fact that there has been no deaths, although one person has been reported missing,” Ms Thomsen said.
“We all have relatives over there, some in the capital of, Nuku’alofa on the main island of Tongatapu and I have heard that the whole country is covered with dust.
“I’m also concerned as I have extended family on Ha’api Island which was close to the eruption, it’s where my mum was born.”
Ms Thomsen said the group are aware that while there have been no official reports of injuries or deaths, communications with the tiny Pacific nation remain limited and that sad news could yet be announced.
About 107,5000 people live on Tonga which comprises around 170 islands.
“Communications are down, everything is out,” Ms Thomsen said.
“It’s the worst natural disaster Tonga has had in 30 years.”
Kainga Tonga ‘o Cairns will hold a prayer meeting later this week, she said.
“Our loved ones are in our thoughts and we will come together as a group later this week and pray for those in Tonga,” she said.
“I understand that there are people there with satellite phones trying to work hard to get the communication up and running.”
The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano on Saturday sent tsunami waves crashing across the shore in Tonga.
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Originally published as Cairns Tongan community rallies following disaster on tiny nation
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