Results for Tongans

Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke has been appointed as Tonga’s new Minister of Finance and National Planning effective from Friday, 10 January 2014.

Digicel Tonga’s mobile communication network in Pangai, Ha’apai has been restored at 10:0am this morning January 13 since it went down on the afternoon of Saturday January 11 when Tropical Cyclone Ian (Cat 5) hit the Lifuka Island. “I have not seen such devastating damages from a cyclone,” said Tupou ‘Ahome‘e Faupula, who went to Ha‘apai with the Digicel crew.

An RNZAF Orion has completed an aerial survey of the Ha‘apai Islands this afternoon to assist the Tonga Government assess the damage after Category 5 Cyclone Ian ripped into the low-lying central group of Tonga yesterday afternoon. Photos courtesy RNZAF.

No deaths, injuries, missing persons or missing vessels were reported in Tonga by this afternoon as Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian, now category 4, with its centre packing punches from 194-268km/hr gusts, weaved its way between the Vava‘u and Ha‘apai groups today, passing close to the exposed small outlying island communities of Mo‘unga‘one and Muitoa, whose fate remains unknown. However, the powerful cyclone that intensified to category 5 last night has surprised storm-watchers by letting Vava‘u off lightly without the expected destruction.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian is closing in on Vava‘u tonight with huge gusts and heavy rain sweeping the group, and much worse to come, with “phenomenal seas” and very destructive 90-125 knots gusts predicted before dawn. At midnight, Vava‘u residents said the gusts were getting much stronger. In its 12:30am advisory for Saturday January 11, Fua‘amotu TCWC stated that the Category 4 cyclone was located about 125km northwest of Hunga (VV) and 125km northwest of Longomapu (VV) or about 210km north-northwest of Lifuka at 10:00pm and moving southeast at 5 knots.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian heading towards Vava‘u and Ha‘apai, has islanders hunkering down and expecting a battering from the Category 4 storm that is forecast to bring destructive winds over central Tonga overnight, with gusts of 80 to 115 knots at times.

Upgraded to Category 3, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ian is intensifying and currently threatens Tonga's northern Niuafo‘ou Island where damaging gale force winds are expected this afternoon and evening. The Fua‘amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) at 1:15pm also issued a gale warning for Vavau, and a strong wind warning for Niuatoputapu.

Now upgraded to Category 2 storm in Tonga, Tropical Cyclone Ian is moving towards Tonga’s northernmost island, Niuafo‘ou. On its current track, TC Ian may bring damaging gale force winds to Niuafo‘ou in the next 12 to 24 hours, and is expected to turn and move to the southeast over Tonga during the next three days.

The Lo'au University, Tonga’s first online virtual university, was officially launched yesterday, January 6, by the Minister of Education, Hon. Dr 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki at the Lopaukamea II Hall, University of the South Pacific Campus, Ha‘ateiho.