Small tornado hits Pahu [1]
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 - 16:44. Updated on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 - 16:48.
Photos by Linny Folau
A family in Pahu was shocked last night when a small tornado (ahiohio) caused damage to their home, business and vehicles after 9:00pm on Fatafehi Road, Nuku'alofa.
‘Ofa Vea (58), her husband Simi, their four children and a grandchild were inside their home watching TV when they heard the destruction.
“It’s hard for me to explain what it sounded like. It was so quick when it hit,” she said. “But thankfully we were all in the house at the time. I thank God no one was hurt.”
The tornado ripped roofing iron from their tyre business and damaged the walls of a hut which had no roof, located in front of their home.
Flying debris also caused minor damage to a wall in their home and their two cars. The tornado even moved one car from their driveway onto the street. A boat on a trailer that was parked across the street was moved towards the property next to it.
‘Ofa said after the tornado hit, they assessed the damage last night and then went to sleep.
“We woke up this morning and started cleaning up. We were surprised that our property seems to be the only one that was badly hit in the area.”
“Our electricity is also out and we are waiting for Tonga Power to come and fix it.”
Further down the street, the tornado also destroyed an old building which had already been partly damaged, while most homes and businesses in the area were spared.
The tornado was unexpected, although a tropical cyclone warning was in force with Tropical Cyclone Ana entering Tongan waters yesterday,bringing stormy and unsettled weather to the capital.
TC Ana was downgraded to a low-pressure system at 2:00pm today and continues to move away from Tonga.
The last tornado reported [2] by Matangi Tonga in December 2019 damaged homes in the Ha'ateiho area of Tongatapu.