We Need To Prepare Ourselves To Rebuild And Renew: Tonga

It’s been four days since Cyclone swept through the Tongan islands of ‘Eua and Tongatapu leaving most people without power and water and others without a home. Despite this, people in the kingdom are still maintaining good spirits.

In the main street of Nuku’alofa, Tafi led a group of half a dozen young men, sweeping the road and collecting debris from the footpaths. Mr Tafi was doing this despite the fact his own house was completely destroyed by Cyclone “We’ve been looking for and seeking assistance from our family overseas - if they can provide financial support to build a new house,” he said.

Mr Tafi didn’t mind doing what he regards as his civic duty while he was effectively homeless.

“We’ve already completed our job [and] what we can do at home so this is our second responsibility as a Tongan to participate with ministry [government] staff with the clean-up.”

Linesmen continued to work through intermittent showers and fading light to try and revive power to the island. They said they had started at first light and wouldn’t finish until midnight but they wanted to get power to the people as quickly as possible.

Authorities hoped to have power restored to most of Nuku’alofa by the weekend, but outlying rural areas could have to wait a little longer.

Further down the road in Tofoa, Feleti is trying to come to grips with the destruction of his shop, which sold funeral supplies.

He said it could be a long time before he could work again. “I don’t know, it could be one month. We need to prepare ourselves to rebuild and renew.”

Mr Feleti said he relied on the shop for his livelihood and to support his family. But he said he was still in good spirits because everyone was alive.