Jan news 2022

 Around 5pm on Saturday 15th of January, supersonic booms like thunders were heard all over Fiji. It was confirmed that they were not rolling thunders but an underwater Volcano in Tonga, Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai had erupted. Ashes were blown over 20 kms into the sky and rain of toxic ashes and volcanic pellets landed in every corner of the Tonga archipelago. Huge tsunami waves were initiated by the blasts with heights of up to 15metres wiped out some of the low lying islands close to the volcano, and destructions to properties and infrastructures were unprecedented. People are still in disbelief that such devastations had only caused four fatalities. The humanitarian relief aids from countries like New Zealand, Australia, China and Japan were prompt. Neighbour islands like Fiji and Tahiti have also responded generously and many aid agencies from around the world. The communication, both domestic and international were severed and it will take weeks to be fixed. The Marists in Tonga were safe from the destructive power of the tsunami but were not spared by the ashes. The huge task of cleaning up the ashes for the whole of Tonga will remain a daunting challenge into the future.