One week after the eruption of a submarine volcano near Tonga, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean.
Communication with the local area was cut off, and it was difficult to grasp the full extent of the damage, but the situation at the local area gradually became clear.
What is happening to Tonga, which is the only one in the South Pacific where the royal family remains and has a close relationship with the Japanese royal family?
I have summarized the information contained so far.
(International Department Reporter Kota Suzuki, Akinori Yoshimoto / Midori Aoki, Sydney Branch)
Where did the eruption occur?
The submarine volcano "Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai", where a large-scale eruption occurred, is 65 km north of Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean, about 8,000 km away from Japan.
The eruption is estimated to have reached more than 15,000 meters above the sky.
Three days after the eruption, the Tongan government issued a statement on the 18th, stating for the first time that the tsunami was up to 15 meters high and many islands were damaged.
What is the information on the damage in Tonga?
It is difficult to communicate with the locals, and even after a week, the whole picture is still unknown, but it seems that major damage has occurred in various places.
[Photo posted on SNS by Tonga ministers on the 20th (Map 1)]
This photo is said to have been taken in the northwestern part of Tongatapu Island, where the capital Nuku'alofa is located.
Many trees have fallen on the beach, and the branches of the trees are scattered all over the place.
[Nomuka Island, about 70 km east of the erupted submarine volcano (Map 2)] In
the photo before the eruption on the left, green trees and fields spread along the coast and buildings are scattered. I understand.
However, in the photo on the right after the eruption, the volcanic ash turns gray all over, and there are places where it seems that the houses are gone.
According to the UN agency that analyzed the images, more than 50 buildings on Nomuka Island have been damaged by the tsunami so far.
[Mango Island, about 75 km east of the submarine volcano (Map 3)] On
this island, houses were gathered along the northern coast of the island, but after the eruption, all the buildings were washed away by the tsunami. Looks like it's gone.
The Tongan government has announced that "all houses have collapsed on Mango Island. Three people have died and many have been injured throughout Tonga."
Why can't I get in touch with Tonga?
After the eruption, Tonga has been left with almost no telephone or internet connection.
This is because the submarine cable, which is the lifeline of Tonga's communication, was damaged by the tsunami.
On the 19th, a company developing a mobile phone business in Tonga announced that the international call service was restored, but it is still difficult to connect (as of 21st).
A company that maintains and manages local submarine cables will carefully proceed with the work, saying, "Ensuring the safety of ships and staff who repair cables is the biggest issue, and we cannot take the risk of navigating in areas where volcanic activity continues." So, it may take up to a month for the communication to be fully restored.
What do you need now in the field?
What is most needed is "water".
In Tonga, which consists of 170 islands, many households collect rainwater and use it as drinking water or domestic water, and it is difficult to secure clean water due to the effects of large amounts of volcanic ash and seawater that has flowed in due to the tsunami. ..
Under these circumstances, the work to remove the volcanic ash accumulated on the runway etc. was finally completed at the local airport, and on the 20th, aircraft carrying relief supplies such as drinking water arrived from Australia and New Zealand, and support by each country has finally begun. increase.
Is the new corona a wall of support?
In fact, in Tonga, only one infected person has been confirmed so far since the spread of the new corona infection worldwide (WHO = World Health Organization survey).
This is the result of continuing strict border measures along with the characteristics of an island country.
A high-ranking government official in Tonga, who is stationed in Australia, is nervous about the spread of the new corona, saying that he does not want to bring in a wave of corona about the support of each country.
Australia and New Zealand, which arrived in Tonga prior to each country, handed over relief supplies while avoiding contact with people and minimizing the time that military aircraft stayed in Tonga. There is.
In fact, Tonga and Japan have a close relationship
The Kingdom of Tonga with a population of about 100,000.
Although it is an island country in the South Pacific far from Japan, the Tongan royal family and the Japanese royal family have had close exchanges for a long time.
At the coronation of King Tonga seven years ago, His Majesty the Crown Prince visited Tonga with the Empress and was welcomed by the people of Tonga.
At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Tongan government and citizens also donated money to Japan.
What can we do?
オリンピックの開会式でトンガ代表の旗手として民族衣装を身にまとって行進し、話題となったピタ・タウファトファ選手はトンガへの寄付を募るクラウドファンディングを立ち上げています。
日本人からも寄付が寄せられているということで、NHKの取材に「日本人も過去に津波で大惨事を経験しているので、私たちの窮状を理解してくれていると思う。日本人からもらった寄付やメッセージに心の底から感謝している」と話し、母国への支援を呼びかけています。