Firefighters in Tonga battled a blaze that engulfed a resdential building at the Free Wesleyan Church’s Theological College known as Sia’atoutai in Tongatapu .
Kaniva News understands one of the buildings at the compound known as Si’oto’ofa Atu was badly damaged.
Apparently this was the first house fire to be reported in Tongatapu for 2016.
Authorities could not be reached for comment.
The annual festivity of fe’iloakita’ufo’ou in which church members visit church leaders and families in mainland Neiafu has been resumed after it was delayed on New Year’s Day by Cyclone Ula.
Rough seas have held up crossings and some islands are recovering from damage to crops and houses.
Outer islanders travelled to Neiafu taking fish and shellfish as gifts for their church leaders who serve churches in the mainland and operated offices there.
Churches in rural areas of Neiafu presented crops, mats and pigs when they visited.
The annual visit is a mixture of cultural and formal religious activities. There is a short prayer service and fakatūʻuta (presentation of pigs, crops, Tongan handicrafts and fish) in the Tongan way. Heralds make speeches and receive and present the gifts on behalf of the church members and the church leaders.
Valamotu Fifita Tāufa from the island of Matamaka in Vavaʻu told Kaniva News through Facebook the visits began yesterday, Monday, January 4.
“They went to meet their church leaders in Neiafu for the New Year,” Mrs Taufa said.
“It was postponed because the sea was really rough.
“Fish were absolutely fresh and beautiful,” she said, referring to the fish taken with the people to present to their church leaders.
Our correspondent in Vavaʻu said the annual visit is traditionally performed by family and relatives of those who live in the outer islands and villages in rural areas of Neiafu.
However, since everyone in various villages and islands belongs to various churches the event has become a social activity performed by churches.
After visiting their church leaders in Neiafu, people from the outer islands have the opportunity to visit their families on the main island.in Neiafu before returning to the islands.
This was an important festive activity for the people of Vavaʻu, our correspondent said.
Photos obtained by Kaniva News show people wearing Tongan formal attire of tupenu and taʻovala boarding boats to travel to Neiafu to perform the feʻiloaki.
Cyclone Ula
Tonga’s National Emergency and Management Office (NEMO) has announced that despite major destruction to fruit crops, only 10 percent of crops were affected by Cyclone Ula while she visited Vava’u.
The category three tropical cyclone caused great destruction to fruit crops, particularly in the outer island of Vava’u, and damage to a number of shelters and buildings that had not been built properly.
However, the government said root crops received only minor damage.
Cyclone Ula left Tonga on Saturday towards Fiji where it was reported to have caused no major damage in the Lau Group.
Tonga’s tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to April, but severe weather can occur at any time of the year.
The main points
The US Embassy in Fiji will send one of its officers to Tonga to provide consular services for U.S. citizens living in the kingdom on February 9 – 11, 2016.
It would be an opportunity for the officer to receive applications from nonimmigrant visa applicants in Nuku’alofa.
In a public notice released by the embassy yesterday it said the consular officer while in Tonga will take applications for American Citizen Services, including reports of birth abroad and U.S. passport applications, as well as provide notary services for documents for use in the United States.
“Appointments for American Citizen Services are available in Tongatapu on Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 2016,” it said.
Public Notice
Consular Officer’s Travel to Tongatapu February 9-11, 2016
The Consular Officer will travel to Tongatapu February 8-11, 2016, to provide consular services for U.S. citizens living in Tonga. Additionally, on February 8 and 9, 2016, a limited number of individuals who meet the requirements outlined below will be able to submit an application for a nonimmigrant visa in Nukualofa.
American Citizen Services:
We will take applications for American Citizen Services, including reports of birth abroad and U.S. passport applications, as well as provide notary services for documents for use in the United States.
Appointments for American Citizen Services are available in Tongatapu on Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 2016.
Please click here to visit our website to review the documents that you are required to present for the different services. Please note that in addition to any original document, you will need to bring photocopies of ALL originaldocuments, IDs, and passports.
Please note that we can only see applicants who have scheduled an appointment. We will not accept walk-in applications! To schedule an appointment please send an e-mail to SuvaACS@state.gov or call (+679) 331-4466.
Please note we only have a limited number of appointments available. Once we confirm your appointment, we will also inform you which documents you need to bring with you, and will also advise you the fees you need to pay. Please note that we can only accept certified bank checks in U.S. dollars in the exact amount made payable to the U.S. Embassy, Suva. For security reasons, cash is not accepted.
Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV):
Please note Tongan NIV applicants must meet all criteria listed below in order to qualify for an appointment in Nukualofa. NIV appointments are available on Wednesday, February 10 and Thursday, February 11, 2016, at the Fa’onelua Convention Center (FCC) in Nukualofa.
You must meet all of the requirements outlined in order to qualify for an appointment.
– You do not plan to travel internationally before March 31, 2016. Given the distances and processing time, we cannot guarantee that passports will be available for travel before that date.
– You must be seeking a visa in one of the following categories:
– You have NOT been refused a U.S. visa before or been removed from the U.S. or denied entry into the United States at a Port of Entry.
– You have NOT overstayed in the U.S. on a previous trip.
If you meet the aforementioned criteria and want to be considered for an interview in Nuku’alofa, please send an email to the Consular Section atSuvaNIV@state.gov. Please include the following information in your email:
Please note we only have a limited number of appointments available. Appointments will be confirmed after the U.S. Embassy received and reviewed above mentioned information. We will not accept walk-in applications!
Applicants who have immediate travel plans or that do not meet the aforementioned criteria must schedule an appointment viawww.ustraveldocs.com and must travel to the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, to submit their application.
We cannot accept petitions for immigrant visas. All immigrant visa inquiries and U.S. legal permanent resident card inquiries should be directed to the U.S. Embassy in Suva at SuvaIV@state.gov.
A section of the government house, where police magistrate lived in Neiafu, was gutted by fire Sunday morning January 3.
There were no injuries or death reported.
The inferno which was promptly brought under control, only affected the flat where Magistrate Paula Tatafu lived.
The affected building situated next to Vavaʻu court house.
Our correspondent in Vavaʻu said Police were investigating but there was no suspicious activity behind the blaze.
This was the third house fire since last Christmas day when a fire broke out at a Chinese owned shopping centre in Neiafu.
On Friday 1 Kaniva News reported the first house fire in Vavaʻu at Veitatalo, Neiafu for the New Year after a resdential house owned by business owner ‘Isi Lutui Fakatulolo broke out at about 4am.
Of all the three blazes no injuries or deaths reported.
The first baby born in Tonga in 2016 arrived while New Year’s Day revellers were still partying and shooting off fireworks.
The official time that Tēvita Jr Tuʻakalu was born at Vaiola Hospital in Tonga was 3:15 a.m.
He was 9 pound and was healthy.
His mum’s aunt ‘Ana Lēlea Fili told Kaniva News Baby Tuʻakalau and his mum are doing well.
His mum Panitita Tuʻakalau is staying with Mrs Fili in ‘Eua, but she is from Lapaha in Tongatapu.
The baby was a blessing to the family as he was the first grandchild of her grandmother’s siblings, Mrs Fili said.
Hospital staff said there were five babies altogether that were born on the New Year’s day.
A three-year-old toddler was killed on Taufaʻāhau Rd in Veitongo on Saturday January 2, 2016, Tonga Police said.
The toddler was struck by a pickup van while crossing the road. He was rushed to hospital but died shortly after.
Nukuʻalofa Police Superintend Tēvita Fifita reportedly said the incident happened at about 1pm when a van travelling westbound appeared to have tried to bypass a parked car on the side of the road hit the toddler.
The driver of the van a 75-year-old man from Folaha was arrested and charged with reckless driving causing death.
He would appear in court today.
Tonga’s outer island group of Vava’u bore the brunt of Cyclone Ula, with fruit crops destroyed on the eve of the harvesting season.
Kaniva News’s correspondent reported the destruction of crops on the main island of Neiafu.
The tropical cyclone watch for Tonga has been cancelled and the cyclone is now heading south west towards the Lau Group in Fiji.
Cyclone Ula caused significant damage in Tuvalu, Kiribati and Tokelau.
No deaths or injuries were reported after Cyclone Ula left Tonga last night.
However, on Neiafu, some small houses were damaged, as well as a number of shelters and buildings that had not been built properly.
The harvesting season for crops such as breadfruit, mangoes and vi has been cut short by the cyclone.
By the time the full force of Cyclone Ula hit the islands, residents had prepared by nailing timbers or tins over windows of their houses.
Boats and yachts were pulled inland for safety and most fishing vessels at sea sought shelter in safe anchorages.
Letio Taufa Katoa from Matamaka Island said that when the cyclone was closest yesterday afternoon, “it was raining heavily and the cyclone was very strong.”
She said no houses had been blown away.
She wrote on her Facebook account that Ula should leave immediately and let the remaining banana trees survive so the people had food.
Photos obtained by Kaniva News from Neiafu show mangos that had been blown down in the cyclone covering the ground.
Our correspondent said members of the Police, Defence Force, Tonga Power and officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure worked quickly and efficiently to make sure people were safe.
The Tonga Power Board switched off Neiafu’s main power supply about 4am on Friday, January 1, as a safety measure.
The Tonga Telecommunication Commission base was also switched off to safeguard its communication satellite connections. However, the Digicel communication company operated as normal.
Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, who also chairs Tonga’s National Emergency and Management Board said people should contact the governor’s office, police or town officers if they had problems with roads, water or any emergency needs.
He said they could make contact with the National Emergency Management Office in Tonga from time to time.
Hon. Sovaleni said the Mormon church halls had been made available for people to stay in there if they felt their houses were not safe.
Cyclone warning cancelled
Tropical Cyclone Ula has left Tonga and is expected to lie 450 kilometres west-northwest of Fua’amotu, Tongatapu or 445km west of Tofua in Ha’apai or 485km west of Ha’afeva in Ha’api at around 7pm this evening.
The Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said in its Tropical Cyclone Warning advisory number 22 at 5.20pm on Sunday, January 3, that the tropical cyclone warning previously in force for Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua had been cancelled.
The gale warning previously in force for Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua has also been cancelled.
The strong wind warning previously in force for Vava’u, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou has been cancelled, but remains in force for Tongatapu and Haapai.
The warning of heavy damaging swells previously in force for the Niuas, Vava’u and Ha’apai has been cancelled, but remains in force for Tongatapu and ‘eua coastal waters.
The heavy rain warning previously in force for Vava’u and Ha’apai has been cancelled.
The main points
Tongan men believed to be four of them were lucky to survive after a car they were passengers in lost control and split in two in Sydney’s south early this morning.
All passengers including the driver Daniel Leech, 34, were drunk and Police found a wine bottle in the car.
Joseph Pohiva 18, who was just arrived from New Zealand on Friday has been thrown 10 metres onto the road after the Mitsubishi Lancer crashed into a bush and hit a pole.
He was rushed to St George hospital and was reported to have been admitted to intensive care with ruptured kidney, spleen, fractured pelvis and lips and head injuries, Sydney 7News reported.
He was in serious but stable condition it said.
Victims David Tuʻitupou told a reporter at the scene it was “scary” while Tuʻitakau Niupalavi said they “made a dump decision to trust the drunk driver”.
It was a miracle that they survived he added.
Leech blew 168 mcg when breath tested by Police at the scene a figure that more than three times the legal limit, 7News reported.
The Tongans just met Leech for the first time at the Kingsgrove Hotel. After offering a lift they agreed to take a ride with Leech in his unregistered Mitsubishi Lancer.
A 41-year-old Tongan man in El Cajon, California claimed he shot and killed his wife at their home when he called Police and reported the incident on Friday.
According to El Cajon media Hauati Faanunu called at 12:34 a.m. and reported that he had just shot his wife at their residence at 8202 Melrose Lane, said Lt. Kenn Nelson of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies dispatched to the home located a dead woman with trauma to her upper body. No one else was at home, Nelson said. A short time later Faanunu turned himself in at the El Cajon Police Department.
The couple had six young children.
The name of the shooting victim as well as the cause and manner of death were pending an autopsy by the medical examiner’s office, he said.
The San Diego County Sheriff Department’s Homicide Detail asked anyone with any information regarding the death to call them at (858) 974-2321.
As a result of Ula’s cyclonic activity in parts of the kingdom, Real Tonga Airline’s domestic flights have been cancelled until further notice, the director of the company Tevita Palu has told Kaniva News this afternoon.
He said they will assess the situation today and during the weekend to see if they could have the flights back to services on Monday January 4.
This morning according to Fu’amotua Cyclone Warning Centre, Cyclone Ula passed close to several islands in Vava’u, bringing 150 kilometre an hour destructive winds.
If Ula continues to remain on its current track as it moved away from Vava’u it will not affect Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua.
A hurricane warning has been cancelled for Vava’u and Ha’apai.
