One year after Tonga submarine volcanic eruption, life support for residents of affected remote islands is a challenge

In 15 days, it will be one year since a large submarine volcano erupted off the coast of the South Pacific island nation of Tonga.

While the removal of volcanic ash and the restoration of telecommunications infrastructure damaged by the tsunami have almost been completed, the issue of providing livelihood support to people who have moved from the devastated remote islands remains an issue.

In Tonga, which consists of about 170 islands, a submarine volcano erupted on January 15 last year, and according to the Tongan government, a tsunami of up to 15 meters surged and four people died, including related deaths.

After the eruption, volcanic ash fell all over the country, but now most of it has been removed, and the townscape of the capital Nuku'alofa, which was covered with ash, has regained its pre-disaster appearance.

In addition, telephone and internet services, which had become difficult due to damage to submarine cables caused by the tsunami, have mostly been restored, except for remote islands.

However, the people of remote islands who were severely damaged by the tsunami cannot return to the islands, and livelihood support at their new destinations has become an issue.

On the outlying island of Atata, all the 100 or so residents were forced to move to Tongatapu, where the capital, Nuku'alofa, is located.

One of them, Rosé Finau (35), still sleeps at a church in Nuku'alofa, waiting for the completion of the government-built resettlement housing. has been swept away. Now I have to find a job and start a new life."

In Tonga, prayers will be offered in memory of the victims at churches across the country on the 15th.

Prime Minister of Tonga “Collaboration with Japan and others in the field of disaster prevention”

Tonga's Prime Minister Huakaba Meilik, in an interview with NHK about the large-scale submarine volcanic eruption and tsunami, one year after the occurrence, thanked Japan and other countries for their support, and cooperated with Pacific island nations in the field of disaster prevention. He expressed his intention to promote nation-building that is resilient to disasters.

In an interview in the capital, Nuku'alofa, Prime Minister Huakaba Meylik said, "Thanks to the support from Japan and other countries, Tonga is continuing its recovery efforts. Without the support of the international community, recovery would have been much more difficult. He expressed his gratitude for the support from Japan, to which the Self-Defense Forces have transported supplies, as well as other countries and international organizations.

He added, ``What I learned from this disaster is how to prepare for disasters and how to become stronger against disasters with limited financial resources. It is necessary," he said, expressing his desire to promote the development of disaster-resistant communication infrastructure and roads, and to collaborate with Japan and other countries in the field of disaster prevention.