Tongan disaster hits home

UPDATE: On their GoFundMe page, the Siales announced that Jeff’s family is, thankfully, safe. But the village still needs help. “Unfortunately we now know that most of the houses in Jeff’s village of Kanokupolu have been washed away and those left standing are uninhabitable. The immediate concern there has been clean drinking water as most of the Island’s water has been contaminated from the volcanic ash. They are also predicting a food shortage as most of the crops have also been destroyed,” they wrote in an update.

Last Saturday’s volcanic eruption in Tonga has left an Emanuel School family urgently seeking information about the wellbeing of their loved ones.

Alisa and Jeff Siale are trying to get any details they can about Jeff’s family, whose village of Kanokupolu lies in the west of the island, only 60km away from the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano.

Jeff, who volunteers for the Parents’ Security Group at Emanuel, told The AJN there have been “no comms to the island”, but he is aware that the western district “got it the worst”.

He said he has received only “a little bit of information” from the Australian High Commission so far.

However, what he has seen is extremely concerning. He said satellite photos show that the Siales’ village, and all the houses in it, have been “wiped out” by the tsunami, which swept across the entire district “from one side to the other”.

Phones are down after floodwaters swept away the local power grid, while rescuers have been blocked by volcanic ash which has blanketed roads.

Since getting news of the eruption, Jeff has been repeatedly trying to reach at least his cousin – the Health Minister of Tonga – to no avail.

The Siales have expressed deep concern not only for his family’s immediate safety, but for what could happen in the wake of the disaster. For one, the nation’s drinking water supply is under immediate threat.

“Locals rely on rainwater. All the water is contaminated with ashes,” Jeff said.

In addition, the Siales are worried about the likelihood of COVID-19 being introduced to the island via aid workers. Tonga has remarkably remained untouched by the pandemic, so far.

The Siales fear the combination of injuries and disease could overwhelm the already-damaged Tongan hospital system.

Jeff added that help is underway from the Tongan army, which has “tried to clear up” and make paths for rescue workers. Additionally, New Zealand has sent aircraft. However, it may be some time before the Siales will be able to find out if their family managed to escape to safety.

The Siales are trying to work out what can be done now to help survivors. In addition to launching a crowdfunding campaign, they are looking into collecting and shipping food, clothing and other supplies.

They praised the Jewish community’s past efforts to help those in need, and are looking to connect with people who might be able to help now.

To make a financial donation at the Help Rebuild Tonga GoFundMe page, visit gofund.me/b0066975. To help in a different way, for instance donating and collecting supplies, email helptongarecover@gmail.com