- The Tonga Defence Service patrol boat, VOEA Savea docked at the Pasivulangi wharf on Niuatoputapu at 06:20 am this morning. It had departed Nuku'alofa on Saturday evening with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the tsunami as well as people from Niuatoputapu. Also on board were Church leaders including the General Secretary of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Rev. Dr. Tevita K. Havea, who until recently was a senior lecturer at the Pacifc Theological College in Suva, Fiji, and technicians from the Tonga Communications Corporation. The ship also carried additional supplies of food and clothing that had donated by the public and church congregations as well those that been specifically addressed to people on the island.
2. The French Navy frigate, FNS Revi also arrived at Niuatoputapu at 08:00 this morning, with more emergency supplies. The ship's departure from Nuku'alofa had been deferred to await the arrival of emergency assistance from New Zealand and Australia as well French medical personnel and supplies. The assistance from New Zealand which arrived on an Air New Zealand commercial flight on Saturday included: 48 x tents, one x generator with batteries, 100 x kitchen sets, 150 kgs of first aid kits and water containers. The assistance from Australia which arrived on a chartered flight on Saturday included: 4 x marquees, 60 x hurricane lamps, 252 tarpaulins, 3 x generators and 420 buckets. A French CASA aircraft had arrived in Nuku'alofa on Saturday with 13 medical and engineer personnel from Tahiti whilst another arrived with 2500 kilograms of medical items and stretchers from New Caledonia. The French CASA aircrafts are too big to land on the runway at Niuatoputapu.
3. Another chartered flight from Chathams Airlines, which services the outer islands of Tonga, went up to Niuatoputapu on Sunday, with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. The flight brought back 3 injured persons whose injuries had become infected, and who are now recovering at the Vaiola Hospital in Nuku'alofa.
4. According to progress reports received from the Operation Niuatoputapu team on the island, the airport runway and all the main roads on the island have been cleared of debris; the survey of the damage is near completion; the setting up tents for temporary housing is ongoing; and the distribution of relief supplies is going well.
5. The population on the island is reported to be in good health with small to medium injuries and health related issues being dealt with by the on site medical team, who are doing their best to prevent any disease outbreaks. The local hospital was destroyed and a temporary medical clinic has been established in Hihifo village but there is no running water. Water for the clinic is being carted by Tonga Defence Service personnel from the village of Vaipoa, a few kilometers away. It is also reported that there is a marked improvement in the state of shock that the population was in a few days ago.
6. There has been extensive damage to the water supply in Hihifo and Falehau villages, but the water supply in Vaipoa is running smoothly. The famous fresh water spring at Hihifo called "Vai ko Niutoua", has been infiltrated by seawater and people are advised to boil all water gathered from this spring. The FNS Revi will remain at Niuatoputapu until Wednesday to help provide potable water for the population from its desalination plant.
7. The three Government Primary Schools and the one Niuatoputapu High School are reported to be in good physical condition and classes are to resume soon. The national Secondary School Entrance Examinations that were originally scheduled for this week has been postponed for the whole country by the Ministry of Education Schools in recognition of the devastation on Niuatoputapu.
8. Damage to root crops on the island is reported to be relatively minor, but there is the real danger that future crops could be endangered by the salt water contamination of the soil.
9. All fishing boats on the island are assumed to be severely damaged or washed away although the survey is continuing.
10. All government housing on the island, including the home of the government representative on the island was totally destroyed. All government vehicles on the island were also destroyed. The Government has made an official request to the New Zealand Government for the HMNZS Canterbury to stop over in Tonga on its way to Samoa, in order to transport heavy equipment and vehicles to Niuatoputapu. The FNS Revi had shipped 3 motorbikes to the island.
11. The local prison which housed all of 10 prisoners was totally destroyed by the tsunami and they are serving their sentences extramurally, for the time being.
Ends
Issued by: The PMO Website Bureau, Prime Minister's Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
Telephone: (676) 24 644 Fax: (676) 23 888 Email: pmomail@pmo.gov.to