A family of 11 escaped unharmed after a freak tornado ripped apart their small home at Makaunga, on the eastern side of Tongatapu during heavy rain and wind on the afternoon of Thursday, September 27.

Viliami Pita and his wife 'Ana lived with nine other family members, including their three daughters and six grandchildren, in the two bedroom tin hut which was located near the top of the high ground at the back of the seaside village. The father is the only bread winner of the family who earns a living by fishing and gardening.

Viliami said his tin house was demolished by the freak tornado, which lasted around two minutes at 3:00pm that day.

He said two of his daughters aged in their 20's and five of his grandchildren aged eight to two were in the house when the tornado tore off their roof, before they ran out to the neighour. The roof landed in the back yard. "The tornado then blew off the walls and the tin to the side of our yard," he said.

"It happened so fast. I was outside during the heavy rain and strong wind and I heard this loud roaring noise. Suddenly, I saw the tornado coming quickly. My daughters and grandkids who were inside the house when the tornado blew off the roof, ran outside and fortunately escaped unharmed," he said.

Viliami said he ran to take shelter at the back of their yard under the trees.

"This is the first tornado I have seen and it was around the same height as the trees. It blew in from the southern side and came straight to my house and blew it apart before it quickly disappeared down to the seafront," he said.

His wife, 'Ana said she was just arriving home when the tornado hit and they ran to the neighbours. "I saw the tornado blow away our walls. Our belongings were left drenched and damaged in the rain but no one was injured, which was the main important thing," she said.

The couple were also surprised that the tornado selectively destroyed their home and left the rest of the village homes almost untouched. "There were trees broken and power poles down but only our house was blown away," they said.

Tent

The Tonga Red Cross responded quickly and provided the the family with a tent to live in.

Viliami said despite the setback he would find a way to rebuild. "Obviously we can't live in the tent forever," he said.

"Honestly, it was scary but we thank God we are still here and just being alive is the important thing," he said.