An underwater volcano erupted off the coast of the Kingdom of Tonga, a Pacific island country, on Jan. 15. The explosion released 18 megatons of energy, making it 1,200 times more powerful than the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
Joseph Cella, former ambassador to Tonga and Hillsdale College alumnus, explained how the United States will continue to provide aid to the islands affected by the volcano.
The United States Agency for International Development can immediately send $100,000 to the islands in need. Cella explained the United States military has already sent the USS Sampson, a Navy destroyer, to provide protection and deliver supplies to Tonga.
The volcano, Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haapai, caused a 7.4-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunamis, with tsunami-effect waves being recorded on the west coast of the United States. The volcano shot ash and dust 25 miles into the sky.
Sia ‘Uhila Angilau maintains a Facebook page called Ordinary Tongan Lives, featuring stories of Tongan people. Angilau has begun posting first hand accounts of what Tongans experienced after the volcano erupted.
“The first wave I saw was about 23 feet. It came and collapsed right at our house, destroyed it, and flowed straight to the other side of the island,” Angilau reported. “My brother and nephew quickly helped me up a wild hibiscus tree as we waited on the wave to subside.”
The Kingdom of Tonga consists of about 170 islands, some of which suffered more damage than others. Tsunamis wiped out every house on Mango island, the home of 62 Tongans. Angilau featured one of these victims on her blog.
“Altogether, there were nine main families of Mango and 62 of us altogether. We found everyone in one spot. Every family was complete except ours,” Angilau wrote.
Ash started to fall on the island that night, forcing the 60 Tongans to cower under a blanket until morning.
“By 5:30 a.m., we said a prayer together, then I went down with a few other men to look for my father,” Angilau said. “I distanced myself from the group, cried a bit, and talked as if my father could hear me. I asked him to give me a sign so I could easily find him.”
Beginning to search among the debris, the group eventually made their way to a place encircled by fallen trees.
“In the middle of it was a mound of sand and my father was lying on top,” Angilau said.“Telai Tutu’ila, my father, had passed away.”
Flo Curr, Fijian resident and wife of New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji, described the resilience of the Tongan people throughout this disaster.
“A lot of people realized they’ve been saved by the grace of God,” Curr explained. “Pacific Islanders, Tongans, specifically, are very resilient.”
Curr said the day after the eruption, the Tongans were focused on rebuilding their nation and getting back to work. People turned up in masses to help clear a runway of all debris so planes with humanitarian supplies could land.
“We first praise God, and second we realize the power of humanity and the Tongan people who can just rise up from these disasters and carry on,” Curr said.
