Tense wait for local Tongans

Members of the Tongan com- munity in Nelson face a nervous wait for news of their relatives following the volcanic explosion and tsunami in Tonga.

Underwater volcano HungaTonga-Hunga-Ha’apai erupted around 5.30pm on Saturday, causing a series of tidal waves and ash clouds.

There had been no confirmed reports of death or injury yesterday, but damage is believed to be widespread and communications have been largely cut. Initial reports revealed the most damage on Tongatapu, the main island of

Tonga, on the northern side of Nuku’alofa, but there were fears for smaller islands near the volcano.

Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga steward Nuni Filiai said his parents and younger siblings currently lived in Tonga. He hadn’t been able to contact anyone at home, which was worrying.

His parents lived on the main island, so they would be able go to higher ground. It was the smaller islands which were of most concern, he said.

Filiai said his faith in God was helping him get through this time.

Nelson woman Ilaisaane Sisifa, who moved to New Zealand from Tonga in 1987, was on Sunday waiting to hear news about cousins back home and her brother-in-law, who lives on one of the smaller islands.

Sisifa’s husband, Free Church of Tonga minister Siasosi Sisifa, had managed to speak to a nephew before the internet connection failed.

She didn’t know how long it would be until the internet came back, which was hard on many families awaiting news.

Sisifa said it was important Tongans stood together and did whatever they could to help one another during the crisis.

“Our understanding, we Tongans, is that we should stand