Nuku‘alofa, Tonga – The MV Onemato was forced to turn back to Tongatapu after powerful waves tore off its bow door while en route to ‘Eua.
Despite the severe damage, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Shocking footage uploaded to Facebook by Lie Fifita shows the moment violent waves breached the vessel, flooding the deck as crew members rushed to secure the area.
It shows rogue waves crashing onto the deck of MV Onemato, flooding the vehicle hold as crew members scramble to secure the area.
The ferry bound for ‘Eua was forced to return to Tongatapu after encountering the dangerous weather system that had triggered gale warnings across Tonga.
While the trip from Tongatapu to ‘Eua Island typically takes an hour by boat, the crossing is notoriously hazardous and must not be underestimated.
It follows Tonga Meteorological Services issuing urgent weather alerts across the kingdom, upgrading Vava’u’s strong wind warning to a more serious gale warning today.
Met said that the gale warning remains in effect for Ha’apai, while strong wind warnings continue for Tongatapu and ‘Eua. All Tongan land areas remain under heavy rain warnings and flash flood advisories.
Commenters on Facebook offered their best wishes, while others cautioned about the dangers of the notorious route, especially when a weather warning was in place.
Maritime authorities are expected to investigate the incident, which has shaken travellers and prompted calls for stricter safety measures on inter-island vessels.
