Tonga power after Cyclone Lin [1]
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - 19:01. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 13:32.
The situation at 4 PM Tuesday, 7 April. Tongatapu - The power is almost restored to all lines in Nuku'alofa and we will complete work on the last parts of Sopu this evening.
The power is now reconnected to all of the Eastern part of Tongatapu with the exception of some parts of the line from Navutoka to Niutoua which will be completed tomorrow.
The power is now reconnected to all lines in the central part of the island.
We will finish work and reconnect some parts of the line from Puke to Ha'atafu on the Western part of the island tonight. We also hope to reconnect supplies to Liahona tonight.
We will reconnect the power to the remaining villages from 'Utulau to Fahefa tomorrow.
We are aware that many individual homes on Tongatapu are still without power in areas where we have restored supply due to the service lines that supply power from the road to the houses being broken. We have all available staff working to restore power to individual homes and hope to have all individual homes reconnected before Easter.
We would ask that everyone is patient as we have many hundreds of homes still to reconnect. Much of the damage has been caused by trees falling over power lines. We suggest that everyone keeps trees on their own properties well trimmed and clear of power lines in the future as this will minimise the risk of damage in future storms.
We would also ask that people do not reconnect their own homes. Please wait for our staff to undertake reconnection as we do not wish to have anyone electrocuted.
'Eua and Ha'apai
Supply has been restored to all individual homes in both island groups with the exception of some homes in Ha'atu'a on 'Eua that will be reconnected tonight.
Vava'u
The supply is reconnected to all parts of Vava'u and we hope to reconnect all service lines to individual homes by Thursday.
I will further update the situation at 4 PM Wednesday 8 April.
Important Notice
We will not reconnect electricity until all power lines have been checked and made safe but please do not touch any fallen lines and treat them all as live lines at all times. David Wright, Tonga Power Limited, 07/04/09.