It's been an anxious 48 hours for Vailanu and John Ika, as they wait to hear from Vailanu's family who live on Tongan island Vava'u. Photo / Warren Buckland
It's been an anxious 48 hours for Vailanu and John Ika, as they wait to hear from Vailanu's family who live on Tongan island Vava'u. Photo / Warren Buckland
A Napier couple yet to hear from family in Tonga after the violent undersea volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami say the uncertainty over whether they have food and water is "nerve-racking".
Vailanu and John Ika are based in Maraenui, and Vailanu's family live on the Tongan island of Vava'u.
Thecouple work as social youth workers based in Taradale, and have been in the region for the past couple of years.
It's been an anxious 48 hours for the pair waiting to hear from family back in the islands, following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai undersea volcano, 65km from the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa.
The eruption caused an ash cloud which soared 20km into the sky, and the sheer power of the blast, and resulting tsunami waves, cut power and communication to Tonga.
"Do they have anything to eat or any clean water for them to drink? All those thoughts are in my head."
Her parents and four brothers, with their wives and children, and one sister with her husband and kids all reside in Vava'u.
A satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite shows an undersea volcano eruption, right, at the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday. Photo / AP
"My dad is teaching in one of the high schools in Vava'u. If I hear from them anytime soon I will be over the moon if they are okay."
She said the first thing she would do, if she heard from them, would be to see what sort of help she'd be able to provide, with the borders not yet open.
"I might check some of the boats which carry freight to the Pacific Islands and send food, water, cleaning supplies and so on."
With the eruption being so sudden, she was uncertain that her wider family was prepared enough for the enormity of it.
"But I know for sure my dad and my mum are well prepared for stuff like this because every time there's a cyclone in Tonga my mum makes sure we have extra clothes, blankets, torches, candles, matches, food and water."
On Monday, Peter Lund, the New Zealand high commissioner in Tonga, said Tonga's internet was down, after the undersea cable broke following the eruption.
