By Eleanor Gee

Tropical Cyclone Sarai (Category 1) caused minor damage on Tongatapu last night and early this morning, with some flooding in areas with poor drainage, fallen powerlines, and flattened vegetation.

Director of the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), Mafua Maka, told Matangi Tonga there were no injuries, deaths, or major damage reported.

“The damages were mainly banana and hoppa trees and fallen power lines, particularly around Hihifo. Tonga Power linesmen have been working on the lines today.”

Evacuation centres were opened ahead of the cyclone but there were no reports about people seeking shelter last night or early this morning.

Meanwhile staff from NEMO, soldiers and Police are continuing to monitor areas as TC Sarai moves away, said Mafua.

The major damage so far was caused by the tornado, [2] which ripped through Ha’ateiho homes yesterday, but there were no injuries or deaths reported.

“That was unexpected. We haven’t had a tornado in a long while,” said Mafua.

Ha'apai sea spout

Another tornado also formed yesterday at sea in the Ha’apai Group but Mafua confimed it did not cause any damage like the one in Ha’ateiho.

According to Tonga Met, TC Sarai on its current track, is expected to lie at about 105km south southeast of Pangai, Ha’apai at 10pm tonight.

Flight cancellations

On the basis of the weather forecasts from both Fiji and Tonga all international flights to Tonga were cancelled, except for the early morning arrival from Sydney at 1:20am.

Paul Karalus from the Tonga Airport Services at Fua'amotu International Airport, said 1220 seats were cancelled (550 for Fiji Air, 350 for Air New Zealand and 320 for Virgin Australia).

He believed the worst of the cyclone passed Tonga 12 hours earlier than was forecasted.

However, Air New Zealand was expected to bring in a larger plane when flights resumed from tomorrow.