Misinformation warning, nervous wait for news of loved ones

A Tongan leader is calling on Tongans overseas to be careful about the spread of misinformation as communication remained an issue a day after volcanic eruptions triggered a tsunami on Saturday.

Pakilau Manase Lua said communication was sporadic from Tonga – he had managed to get in touch with family through social media, but the phone lines were still down.

And, as Tongans struggle to get news from loved ones, he’s

already heard of a video circulating online and incorrectly being passed off as footage from Tonga.

‘‘It’s a hit-and-miss right now, that’s a huge problem we’re facing, communication,’’ he said.

Lua, the chairman of the

Pacific Leadership Forum in Auckland, said he understands there may be anxiety and fear in his community because of the lack of communication on the ground.

‘‘We just need to stay calm and make sure we wait on credible information from credible sources, because misinformation won’t help anyone and will only create further panic.’’

Lua said a video that was circulated on social media after the tsunami hit on Saturday night was a perfect example of how many would try to take advantage of the situation for clicks.

The video showed large tidal waves coming onto the shore in Indonesia, and was being passed off as from Tonga.

‘‘We just need to be careful, that we’re sharing the right things.

‘‘It’s tough not having contact

‘‘We just need to stay calm and make sure we wait on credible information from credible sources, because misinformation won’t help anyone.’’

Pakilau Manase Lua

Pacific Leadership Forum chairman

from our families back home,’’ Lua said.

Meanwhile, thousands of Tongan members of the Methodist Church in New Zealand joined a day of prayer as they wait for news.

Reverend Kalolo Fihaki, superintendent of the church’s Tongan synod, said the church had experience in providing aid and was ready to respond when needed.

‘‘We are keen to work in with the New Zealand Government, and we will collect from within the community.

‘‘We are waiting to hear what the damage is, and what the people need,’’ Fihaki said.

Yesterday morning 3700 members of the Tongan community mostly from New Zealand, but also in Australia and the United States, took part in a three-hour online chain prayer through Zoom.

Fihaki said prayer was the only thing they could do to keep the community calm in the absence of any communication with Tonga.

‘‘People are so worried – we just feel helpless at the moment with our loved ones in Tonga,’’ he said.

There had been some word from the islands before power and communications were cut on Saturday night.