Tonga receives help - 26th January 2022

Help is now coming to Tonga. A big volcano and tsunami hit the islands on 15th January.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano is under water. The volcano eruption was very big and very loud. You could see it from space. And you could hear it in Alaska.

The tsunami hit Japan and the US too. The volcano sent gas and volcanic ash over the Pacific.

Tongan people in New Zealand are sending help. Jenny Sales says most of Tonga needs help.

Jenny Sales: "There are just over 70 thousand Tongans here in New Zealand. And we know that about 80 percent of Tonga is affected by this. This natural disaster is different to cyclones in the past, right, which has only affected parts of Tonga, or Ha'apai, or Vavaʻu or Ongo Niua. This one, twin disasters, has affected the majority of, of Tonga and so it is a huge concern for us."

People are sending food and water. The water in Tonga could be unsafe. Tonga will need this help for a long time. Fatafehi Fakafanua is a Tongan politician.

Fatafehi Fakafanua: "It's good to see such an early response. But I think what's important is the ongoing response because it won't end here. One week, two weeks from now, I think, I'm sure in two months, we'll still need support. So, it's gonna be a long road to recovery and we hope that we'll continue to sustain this."

The disaster broke the telephone and internet cables. It's difficult to get news about the situation on the islands. But the people in Tonga want to stay and rebuild their homes and their country.