New York/Beijing: Taking note of the tsunami warnings triggered by the January 15, 2022 volcanic eruption in Tonga, Beijing today told its citizens in Tonga and neighbouring countries to pay close attention to the warnings issued by their host countries and strengthen safety precautions.
“The Chinese Embassy in Tonga will continue to closely monitor the situation of Chinese citizens in Tonga and provide timely consular protection and assistance,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated in Beijing today. Lijian informed that on the afternoon of January 17, 2022, the Department of Consular Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry had a live telephone conversation with the Chinese Embassy in Tonga to get updates about the situation of Chinese citizens there. “So far no Chinese casualties have been reported. The Embassy has assisted a resident of Guangdong Province in reaching her family member in Tonga and confirmed his safety, after they lost contact due to communication interruption. The Embassy also informed the Liaocheng University in Shandong via satellite phone that its three teachers in Tonga are safe,” he said.
It may be mentioned that following weeks of volcanic activity emitting ash, the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano in Tonga erupted violently on January 15, 2022 with satellite imagery indicating a 5 km wide plume of ash, steam, and gas, rising approximately 20 km above the volcano. Within minutes, the volcanic eruption generated a 1.2-metre tsunami that crashed ashore in coastal areas of Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa. Tsunami warnings were also issued for Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Australia, and New Zealand.
The majority of the country has been impacted by a 1-2cm layer of volcanic ash, which is affecting water and food supplies, and negatively impacting air quality. In the coming days, access to clean water supply will be an immediate priority. Communication lines have been interrupted since January 15, making it difficult to get information on the extent of the damage.
Incidentally, the United Nations’ Secretariat has nobody on ground in Tonga since its office in Fiji covers a number of Member States in the South Pacific. With borders closed in Tonga due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Secretariat claimed in New York last night that the World Food Programme (WFP) is exploring how to bring in relief supplies and more staff. It has also received a request to restore communication lines in Tonga by deploying its Emergency Telecommunications Cluster. The World Health Organization though, has mobilised resources and its Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters today that with telecommunications down, WHO was on the ground in Tonga helping coordinate the response by channelling information between UN agencies, humanitarian partners and the Tongan government.
“Information on the degree of destruction is still being gathered but WHO will do all it can to support the people and government of Tonga. The volcanic eruption near Tonga and subsequent tsunami requires an urgent response” Dr. Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.
The UN Secretariat stated that there has been no contact from the Ha’apai group of islands, and it was particularly concerned about two small low-lying islands — Mango and Fonoi — following surveillance flights confirming substantial property damage. While no fatalities have been confirmed to date, two people are reported missing. Besides, the Government of Tonga reports significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu.
Once the needs are confirmed by the Government of Tonga, UNICEF is ready to transport its pre-positioned emergency supplies from Fiji and Brisbane warehouses. These include essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) kits, water containers and buckets, water field test kits, tarpaulins, recreational kits, and tents, that can be immediately mobilized for distribution. UNICEF stated it will work with the government and its partners on the ground to reach children and families with the support they urgently need.
– global bihari bureau
