Results for tag

The Minister for Health, Hon Saia Piukala said today that all main roads on Tongatapu have been cleared of debris and were accessible today. He called on people with leaking taps to fix them quickly to preserve the water supply on Tongatapu. He also warned of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea spreading after the cyclone.

Tonga’s Olympic skier, Pita Taufatofua, in PyeongChang, South Korea told journalists from around the world today that Tongans were coping well in the aftermath of Cyclone Gita because of a “unique personality”.

Two teenagers were arrested with boxes of goods stolen from the Central Business District of Nuku’alofa on February 14. The CBD night curfew has been extended for another week under the current State of Emergency.

Many people are living in evacuation centres on Tongatapu today after 119 homes were completely destroyed and 1131 partially damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita, initial assessment reports revealed today, February 14. Damage figures are expected to rise. Reports from outer islands are still coming in.

The water supply is expected to be fully functional by this evening says Tonga Water Board (TWB) Acting CEO, Kolopeaua Tonga, after Cyclone Gita destroyed the water pump shed located at Mata-ki-‘Eua on Tongatapu.

The death toll is at one from severe Tropical Cyclone Gita on the night of Monday February 12, while three people suffering major injuries were admitted to Vaiola Hospital, in Nuku'alofa.

Matangi Tonga is back online, thanks to Digicel Wifi services in Nuku'alofa. Our apologies for the delay in posting our news. Internet and telephone connectivity is currently disrupted on Tongatapu and 'Eua, following Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita on Monday night. News updates and photos will be posted soon. Happy Valentine's Day! Matangi Tonga Team.

Cyclone Gita will reach Category 5 by the time it hits Tongatapu and ‘Eua this evening, the strongest in recorded history to approach Tonga, warns Director of Tonga MET, 'Ofa Fa'anunu at a press conference this morning. “Category 5 means that the winds have reached 110 knots. This is around 220 and 230 km per hour winds....We need to move now to evacuation centres.”

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita is forecast to hit Tonga with up to Category 4 force winds from tomorrow morning, Monday February 12, according to the latest forecast from the Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre in Fiji. Tongans are handicapped in their preparations for the storm as strict sabbatical laws prevent Sunday trading for emergency supplies. At 4:30pm today the capital, Nuku'alofa remains quiet and sleepy. Tonga Met officers said this afternoon that if the cyclone speeds up from its present slow moving approach it might arrive earlier. A hurricane warning remains in place for most of Tonga. Tonga should be on high alert until the storm passes on Tuesday morning.