Footage in Nukualofa of waves crashing into homes as tsunami warning sounds in Tonga
By Staff Writer
Palauli and Satupaitea village families in low lying areas along the Savaii Island coastline, escaped to high grounds on Saturday night when high waves pushed raising sea level into their homes.
The rough weather conditions followed a volcanic eruption in Tonga that brought a tsunami warning from the Met Office to Samoa and close neighbours.
Police Deputy Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said on Saturday night the Savai’i police worked together with the emergency services staff to move families to safety.
Satupaitea MP and former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Selafi Purcell, confirmed the urgent safety rush by families.
“I was in contact with the village pulenu’u by phone who said the police and emergency services alerted everyone with their sirens to move up to high grounds for their protection,” Lautafi said.
“I was told there were no injuries but I am not sure of any water damages to homes probably until tomorrow (Sunday).”
Deputy Commissioner Auapaau said the Savaii police patrolled along the coastal villages of Savaii warning families likely at risk to evacuate to safety.
Police in Upolu also on patrol along the south side of the island keeping close watch on the conditions and advising families of their safety.
“We are hearing the village of Lepuia’i on Manono Island, maybe at risk from the rising water we’re hopeful for their safety,” Auapaau said on Saturday night.
Police were kept on the alert during the night to keep watch for any changes.
Samoa and American Samoa went on tsunami watch early on Saturday evening as reports of the volcanic eruptions in Tonga were coming through around 5.30pm local time.
The main Met Office advisory for Samoa at the time was to stay away from coastal areas.
Initial regional news from Tonga reported violent volcanic eruptions that lasted about eight minutes, rattled windows and sent ash into the air.
Tidal waves crossed the Nuku’alofa shoreline and coastal roads and flooded properties. The eruption recorded a radius of 260km. and was about seven times more powerful than the last eruption on December 20 last year and continuing to grow.
The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano is located about 30 kilometres south-east of Fonuafo’ou island in Tonga.
The volcano was erupting intermittently in late December.
The first and only known tsunami to hit Samoa on 29 September 2009 came for two large earthquakes in the Tongan trench.
The earthquakes generated tsunami waves of up to 22 meters (72 feet) that engulfed the shores, killing at least 192 people—149 in Samoa, 34 in American Samoa, and 9 in Niuatoputapu, Tonga.
Damages of up to $200m dollars were estimated.