Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Volcano

According to an assessment by the World Bank, “The Tonga Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption, tsunami and ashfall has caused an estimated US$90.4M (TOP 208 million) in damages – the equivalent of approximately 18.5% of Tonga’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Every single school across Tonga was impacted by the volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami, according to Save the Children staff. On the three main islands of Tongatapu, Eua and Ha’apai, there were three inches of sand and volcanic dust covering the schools. Textbooks, classroom furniture and writing materials were destroyed, and some classroom buildings were extremely damaged. Schools had opened on Jan. 31, but closed on Feb. 2 due to COVID.

The World Bank assessment also found, “Around 600 structures in total, including at least 300 residential buildings, have been damaged or destroyed by the tsunami waves in Tonga with an estimated US$43.7M of damage. Many tourism businesses have been particularly hard hit – with accommodation, wharves and worker’s homes destroyed or severely damaged. Tonga’s agricultural sector has been significantly impacted – with 85% of agricultural households nationwide affected to some extent, and an estimated US$20.9M of damage to this sector; including crops lost, and damage to shallow reef fisheries. The tsunami and volcanic ashfall caused an estimated US$20.9M in damage to infrastructure – including roads, causeways, power supply, ports/marine and water supply infrastructure as well as the submarine cable. Ash clean-up costs will be significant and are estimated to cost just under US$5M for buildings and paved road infrastructure.”

On Tongatapu five coastal communities were assessed with significant damage: ‘Ahau, ‘Atata, ‘Eueiki, Kanokupolu, and Patangata. At least 31 houses were destroyed, 72 were severely damaged, 46 had moderate damage and 23 hadminor damage. On ‘Eua, two houses were destroyed, 45 were severely damaged and 45  sustained moderate damage.

In the Ha’apai group of islands, Lifuka had 16 houses severely damaged along with damage to government buildings. On Mango Island, population 36 people, all houses were destroyed and on Fonoifua only two houses remain (population 69 people). The residents of these two islands were evacuated to Nomuka, which also experienced significant damage.

The islands of Niuas and Vava’u had no significant damage visible from a reconnaissance flight except for a light covering of ash..

On Feb. 22, the underwater communication cable that connects Tonga to Fiji was restored after the state-owned company laid 56 miles of cable, some of which they needed to borrow from other companies. “Tonga’s submarine fiber-optic cable system connects the main island to Fiji, whose international network connects it to the rest of the world … Now, they can focus on repairing the second domestic cable connecting to Tonga’s outer islands.” Elon Musk’s SpaceX company donated 50 very-small-aperture satellite terminals (VSAT) to the Tonga which have allowed access to the outer islands in the meantime.

Volcanic ash covered all surfaces, including trees and homes in Tonga. Water infrastructure remains severely compromised.

At least 80% (about 84,000 people/12,000 households) of the population was affected. As of Jan. 31, there were still 2,390 people/465 households that were still displaced. Over half of these were on the main island.

According to UN OCHA, “It is estimated that more than 32,000 children have been psychologically affected by the emergency. More than 30,000 people have been reached with WASH assistance so far. An estimated 15,000 persons have been reached with health assistance and some 10,000 persons with nutrition assistance. Emergency shelter and NFI assistance was distributed to 2,020 people in most-affected areas. The loss in the agricultural sector is estimated at US$ 17 million, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests.”

As of Feb. 23, only three people were reported to have died in Tonga. One of them, a British national who ran an animal shelter, was swept away by floodwaters while saving her dogs. Elsewhere, two people died in Peru because of the tsunami waves.