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Police arrest two for looting; Nuku’alofa curfew extended

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police have arrested two men for burglary and stealing in Nuku’alofa Central Business District (CBD).

The accused were arrested with boxes of goods stolen on February 14.

The suspects appeared to have taken advantage of a curfew that left homes and businesses in the areas empty as Tropical Cyclone Gita swept through the kingdom on Tuesday night.

As Kaniva News reported, an overnight curfew was in place in Tonga in the eve of the category 4 storm after Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell ordered a restriction that required people in the CBD area to remain indoor on Tuesday 13 February 2018 from 9pm until 7am.

The night curfew has been extended for another week, between the hours of 8pm to 8am.

The boundary of the curfew area includes Tupoulahi Road to the east, Mateialona Road to the south, Vaha’akolo Road to the west and Vuna Road to the North.

China offers $1.3 million pa’anga relief fund to help Tonga recover from cyclone Gita

By
Kalino Latu
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China is offering an initial relief fund of more than $1.3 million pa’anga to support Tonga following the ferocious winds of Tropical Cyclone Gita.

The offer was confirmed this morning after Prime Minster ‘Akilisi Pōhiva met with His Excellency Wang Baodong, Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, a statement released to Kaniva News by the Chinese Embassy said.

The Chinese Government has provided US$500,000 of emergency humanitarian assistance by remittance to the Tongan Government.

The Red Cross Society of China pledged US$100,000 of emergency humanitarian assistance by remittance to the Red Cross Society of Tonga.

The Chinese Embassy in Tonga has offered $40,000 Pa’anga by remittance for the relief work.

“Furthermore, the Chinese side will continue to actively help the Tongan government and people fight against the disaster and rebuild the country according to the need of the Tongan side,” Chinese Ambassador to Tonga said.

Prime Minister Pōhiva welcomed the Chinese assistance, the statement said.

Hon. Pōhiva was quoted as saying “Tonga looks forward to China’s participation in the post-disaster reconstruction of Tonga and is ready to keep communication with the Chinese side on the recovery effort.”

Before the meeting, the embassy sent a message expressing its “heartfelt condolences” to those affected by the category 4 storm in Tonga.

“Honorable Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China sent a message to Honorable Akilisi Pohiva, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tonga on February 13, extending heartfelt sympathy to the Government and people of Tonga, vowing that China is ready to provide emergency disaster relief assistance within its capacity, and believing that with the joint efforts of the Tongan government and people, Tonga will be able to overcome the disaster and rebuild the country.”

For more information

Tonga welcomes New Zealand $750,000 donation as Gita leaves path of destruction

Tonga looking for temporary home for March Parliamentary sessions

By
Kalino Latu
-

As Tonga struggles to recover from Cyclone Gita, authorities are looking for somewhere to host the next Parliamentary sessions from March 5 to March 15.

Parliament needs a place to meet so MPs can process bills and laws that are required for the government’s 2018-2019 budget.

A Parliamentary spokesperson said the Speaker’s office was working urgently to decide on a suitable venue before informing all Members of Parliament.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Tonga’s parliament house, which is more than a century old, was flattened by tropical cyclone Gita.

Australia and New Zealand have already sent personnel and humanitarian supplies, including tarpaulins and water purification tablets to Tonga.

The New Zealand’s government had pledged $750,000 to help rescue and relief operations and an RNZAF Hercules would fly emergency relief supplies to the kingdom.

An RAAF C-17A Globemaster flew to Tonga with emergency relief supplies last night.

China

As Kaniva News reported last year, Tonga has submitted a proposal to the Chinese government to fund a new Parliament House.

The Chinese Ambassador to Tonga His Excellency Wang Baodong was welcomed at the Legislative Assembly in June 2017.

It was not immediately clear whether Tongan and Chinese authorities have taken another look at the proposal after the Parliament was levelled on Monday or not.

Tropical Cyclone Gita

Cyclone Gita, a category four storm, struck Tonga’s main island Tongatapu and its nearby island ‘Eua on Monday, causing widespread damage.

Electricity lines were downed, roofs were torn off houses by the high winds and crops were destroyed.

Hon Poasi Tei told reporters in Nuku’alofa yesterday  119 homes were completely destroyed and 1,131 with minor damages while 4,500 people were at the 108 evacuation centres in Tongatapu.

Tonga Power workers have restored power in some areas in Tongatapu yesterday afternoon Wednesday 14.

The Tonga Water Board announced that water supply had been restored to almost all areas of Nuku’alofa.

In earlier reports, residents were finding it more difficult to cope with the aftermath because of lack of power which has also affected water supplies, communication and petrol stations.

Some people in Houmakelikao went to the Minister of Police’s residence and charged their mobile phones using electric generated from the Minster’s electric power generator.

The town of Houma in Tongatapu lost its water supply after their two-tank water supplier was destroyed by Gita.

The town’s residents took to Facebook to ask their community members overseas to help donate for a new water supplier.

Two death reported

As we reported on Tuesday, two deaths have been confirmed. A 72-year-old man from Fua’amotu died at Vaiola hospital.

Disaster Management Minister Poasi Tei told Kaniva News yesterday the impact of the cyclone may have contributed to the old man’s death.

Radio New Zealand International quoted Lord Fusitu’a as saying an elderly woman died after her house was “completely blown away from her while she was in it.”

Police also confirmed three major injuries and 30 minor injuries on Tongatapu as a result of Gita

For more information

Falling trees and downed power poles hinder relief effort, says Minister

Cyclone Gita – what you need to know

Man ,18, arrested in 18 year-old girl machete death

By
Kalino Latu
-

A murder inquiry has been launched after a woman was fatally injured in an attack police believe involved a machete.

The 18-year-old victim died at the scene in a road in ‘Umusi, Ma’ufanga on February 13.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the attack, Police said.

The accused and deceased were known to each other and they had a child together, Police said.

The incident was first reported yesterday evening with one Facebook poster saying two Police vehicles were at the scene.

Police have charged the suspect with murder while he remains in Police custody.

Police are continuing their inquiry.

Airlines resume Tonga flights in wake of cyclone Gita

By
Kalino Latu
-

Planes began landing again this afternoon at the Fua’amotu International airport after it closed for about two days stranding hundreds of travelers trying to get home from overseas.

Air New Zealand Flight NZ270 and Singapore Airlines Flight SQ4328 which was operated by Air New Zealand (NZ270) departed Auckland International airport this afternoon for Tonga at 1.40pm.

It is expected to arrive in the kingdom at 4.55pm.

The flight was the first  to arrive in Tonga from New Zealand after Tropical Cyclone Gita with winds of 230km/h flattened Tonga’s Parliament House, damaged Cabinet house and causing significant destruction and injuries across the kingdom.

Malia Hāmani, her family and staff of her Toa Pacific organisation were among those in line at a check in queue at the Auckland International airport this afternoon.

They were travelling to Tonga as part of their works – The prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect for Pacific People in Auckland.

Hāmani who is based in Auckland said she was concerned after hearing from her family in Tonga after the cyclone and she was happy to go there to meet them and see if they could help with the situation.

“We planned to go there and visit the elderly as that is what we are doing here in New Zealand,” Hāmani told Kaniva News.

She said her family in Tonga were lucky beceause no one was injured or had any damage to their homes.

Hāmani said she was told her family’s neigbours lost their houses after the category 4 tropical cyclone.

Cyclone Gita, the strongest tropical storm to hit Tonga in more than six decades, destroyed approximately tens of millions of pa’anga’ worth of crops, buildings and businesses.

Tongan authorities were expected to release the results of an assessment conducted in Tongatapu since yesterday in an effort to assess the extent of the destruction.

The Minister of Disaster Management, Hon. Poasi Tei, said teams of government assessors had been dispatched to villages and towns to report on damage caused by the category four cyclone.

The NZ P3 Orion flight has completed a surveillance mission in Tonga yesterday and photos taken during the survey had been given to the Tongan Govt to help with assessment and priority needs.

It is understood the New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga met with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva today to assist assessing needs and developing response options to help Tonga.

The kingdom’s state of Emergency remains in place.

Ministry confirms 53 dengue cases as national clean-up campaign begins

By
Philip Cass
-

There have now been 53 confirmed dengue fever cases in Tonga.

The first case of the disease was confirmed in the first week of January.

The Ministry of Health declared an outbreak on January 24.

There has been one fatality, Toafei Telefoni, who died while visiting Tonga from New Zealand.

Telefoni was buried in Auckland on February 3.

Dr Siale Akau’ola, CEO of Tonga’s Ministry of Health, told Kaniva News earlier this month the influx of returning students and visitors to Tonga during the Christmas Holidays had brought in a large pool of dengue viruses which caused the outbreak.

The Ministry has issued advice to the public on signs and symptoms of dengue fever.

Indications of the disease included  fever associated with vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding and inability to take in oral fluid.

If these symptoms were present patients needed to be supplied with plenty of fluid to stop them going into shock.

A national clean-up campaign for Tongatapu began on February 1, with teams working in the east, west and central districts to remove old refrigerators, tyres, washing machines and other rubbish that could be  breeding grounds for mosquitos.

Where dengue fever cases have been identified, houses have been supplied with mosquito nets and repellent.

Houses are inspected  and sprayed with insecticides.

The next steps will include cleaning up and spraying schools.

The main points

  • There have now been 53 confirmed dengue fever cases in Tonga.
  • The Ministry has issued advice to the public on signs and symptoms of dengue fever.
  • A national clean-up campaign for Tongatapu began on February 1, with teams working in the east, west and central districts to remove old refrigerators, tyres, washing machines and other rubbish that could be breeding grounds for mosquitos.

For more information

Dengue confirmed as cause of death of 12 year old girl, Ministry confirms 19 more cases 

Falling trees and downed power poles hinder relief effort, says Minister

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government’s efforts to assess the extent of destruction by tropical cyclone Gita had been hindered by falling trees and downed power poles.

The Minister of Disaster Management, Hon. Poasi Tei, said teams of government assessors had been dispatched to villages and towns to report on damage caused by the category four cyclone.

However, they could not start their work immediately because the roads were blocked by debris and downed powerlines.

It is expected the assessment would be completed by tomorrow, Hon. Tei told Kaniva News.

As we reported this afternoon, New Zealand and Australia sent two aircraft carrying aid to Tonga.

Hon Tei said he was thankful for the New Zealand and Australia’s assistance so far.

Meanwhile a 72-year-old man from Fua’amotu died suddenly in hospital while three people were seriously injured and 30 were admitted to hospital with minor injuries, Hon. Tei said.

Police Minister Māteni Tapueluelu said his ministerial office and some other police offices had been flooded.

He said many school buildings had their roofs ripped off when Cyclone Gita struck.

Hon. Tapueluelu said this afternoon attempts to get information from ‘Eua in the wake of Gita had been failed because telephones and internet were down.

Another aircraft from New Zealand will fly to Tonga to conduct a surveillance survey in ‘Eua.

He said Police were trying to make contacts with the island from Nakolo in Hahake because of their closeness but he has yet to be updated in it.

It has been estimated about 5700 people sought shelter in evacuation centres overnight, and it is expected these numbers will increase substantially tonight.

About 80,000 people in Tonga, including 32,000 children, were at risk from Cyclone Gita,  Unicef said.

The main points

  • The Tongan government’s efforts to assess the extent of destruction by tropical cyclone Gita had been hindered by falling trees and downed power poles.
  • The Minister of Disaster Management, Hon. Poasi Tei, said teams of government assessors had been dispatched to villages and towns to report on damage caused by the category five cyclone.
  • However, they could not start their work immediately because the roads were blocked by debris and downed powerlines.

For more information

Tonga welcomes New Zealand $750,000 donation as Gita leaves path of destruction

NZ and Australian aircraft heading to Tonga with assistance; Commercial flights cancelled

By
Kalino Latu
-

The New Zealand aircraft RNZAF C130 Hercules and an Australian Orion aircraft carrying emergency relief supplies have departed for Tonga this afternoon.

Disaster Management Minister Poasi Tei said the Australian aircraft was heading to Tonga to help with the Tropical Cyclone Gita’s relief effort.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the Hercules was carrying family hygiene kits, shelter kits, jerry cans, and tarpaulins.

Following a request from the Tongan Government, Australia has deployed $350,000 in life-saving equipment including emergency shelter, kitchen and hygiene kits to assist over 2,000 people in need, Australian Foreign Minister Hon. Julie Bishop said.

Australia has released humanitarian supplies, including tarpaulins and water purification tablets, through the Tongan Red Cross.

The Australian Defence Force will conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, as part of the broader whole of government effort to support the Government of Tonga.

A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster will deliver much needed emergency relief supplies to Tonga this evening. The ADF is also ready to assist with debris removal, water, sanitation and distribution of emergency supplies on request from the Government of Tonga.

To further assist in the response, two civilian humanitarian specialists have been deployed at this stage, in addition to an Australian-funded humanitarian specialist already working with Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office.

An Australian medical expert is working with New Zealand specialists and Tongan authorities to assess health services in affected areas.

“The full extent of damage caused by Cyclone Gita is still being assessed but there is an immediate need for assistance on the ground,” Mr Peters says.

“Initial assessments indicate there has been extensive damage to homes in Nuku’alofa and some damage to commercial buildings,” he says.

“About 5,700 people sought shelter in evacuation centres overnight, and it is expected these numbers will increase substantially tonight.”

The NZ plane has carried a government team to support the New Zealand High Commission assess emergency needs and respond to requests from the Government of Tonga.

Australian officials are travelling to Tonga to help provide assistance to Australians affected by the disaster. All Australians in Tonga are advised to remain indoors and follow the instructions of local authorities. At the time of issue, DFAT had not received any requests for consular assistance.

Flight cancellations

At this stage Fua‘amotu International Airport runway in Tongatapu is open to emergency supply aircraft only.

A visual inspection of the international airport has shown the runway to be intact with minimal damage.

New Zealand is coordinating the international relief response alongside other countries including Australia.

All flights to Tonga through Auckland International Airport had been cancelled this afternoon.

For further information

Tonga welcomes New Zealand $750,000 donation as Gita leaves path of destruction

Tonga welcomes New Zealand $750,000 donation as Gita leaves path of destruction

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government has welcomed New Zealand’s offer to donate $750,000 and personnel assistance in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Gita.

The New Zealand Government has a military plane with assistance ready to go once it was safe to land it in Tonga.

Tonga’s Minister of Police Māteni Tapueluelu has told Kaniva News in Auckland the government of Jacinda Ardern had indicated yesterday before cyclone Gita struck the kingdom last night that it stood by and was prepared.

Tapueluelu said the Tongan government was in the process of fulfilling procedural requirements before it can receive the donation and all assistance.

New Zealand Minister for Pacific People Aupito William Sio said last night while New Zealand was on standby mode ready to provide support to all Pacific countries affected  by Cyclone Gita, “it will not respond unless requested by the affected Pacific government.”

Prime Minister Arden said the New Zealand Government has a military plane and $750,000 ready to help cyclone-battered Tonga, Fairfax media reported.

The New Zealand Government had already pledged $50,000 to help but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told RNZ on Tuesday morning a contingency fund had been signed off that outstrips that, so there was “no hold up” when they knew where to use the funds.

The aftermath

This morning in Tongatapu after cyclone Gita. Photo/Courtesy of John Nicholas Pulu, Tangata Pasifika

Tonga’s main island Tongatapu and its island of ‘Eua were besieged by the category 4 tropical cyclone last night in what has been called the worst storm to hit the country in 60 years, with gusts of up to 278kmh.

Tongatapu and ‘Eua residents woke this morning to what ‘looks like a war zone’ and are assessing the extensive damage left behind by destructive Cyclone Gita, with emergency services fearing there will be ‘more injuries if not deaths’.

New Zealand media said two deaths had been confirmed.

Gita brought  gale-force wind gusts of up to 200km/h, record breaking rainfall of more than 200mm in an hour, and surging tides threatening widespread floods.

Cyclone Gita’s ‘destructive core’ battered the east coast, stripping palm trees bare, destroying businesses, churches, schools and leaving homes in ruins.

Devastating photos show buildings in Hihifo and Hahake areas of Tongatapu with roofs ripped off and homes inundated with water.

The Tonga Parliament house was levelled and school buildings in Apifo’ou college had been ripped off.

Tonga under curfew as it braces for cyclone Gita

By
Kalino Latu
-

An overnight curfew is in place in Tonga now as it awaits Cyclone Gita – which is threatening to become a devastating category five storm.

Commissioner of Tonga Police, Stephen Caldwell has ordered a curfew in the Central Business District area of Nuku’alofa starting from 9pm tonight until 7am tomorrow morning Tuesday 13 February 2018.

The following roads delimits the CBD area, Tupoulahi Road to the east,
Mateialona Road to the south, Vaha’akolo Road to the west and Vuna Road to
the North.

“This is to further protect people and property, and we ask for public understanding and common sense to be used at this time.”

No one is allowed to enter the Nuku’alofa Central Business area unless you’re part of Tropical Cyclone Gita’s Emergency Response Team.

Those who live within the CBD area are being urged to stay indoors, or get to an Evacuation Centre as soon as possible.

“We are urging people to seek refuge from this severe cyclone that could be the most powerful in the country’s history,” says Commissioner Caldwell.

Police Patrols will be joined by His Majesty’s Armed Forces for full coverage of Tongatapu to ensure Community awareness, public safety and to evacuate as necessary.

Key Safety Messages to the public;

 Keep yourself and your family safe

 Keep off the road

 Stay at home if it’s safe

 Get to an Evacuation Centre as soon as possible with food and water

 Keep away from the Coastline

 Make sure you have water, food, candles, torches

 Medical kit if you have them

 Charged cell phones for Emergency

 Keep indoors away from flying debris

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