Results for Outer Islands

Kakala Lefai (58) of Hihifo, Niuatoputapu, is recovering in Nuku'alofa's Vaiola Hospital with an injured knee after surviving the devastating tsunami that in one terrible moment took the lives of her 60-year-old husband Sosefo, and two young grandchildren aged one and two years old.

The town of Pangai in Tonga's central Ha'apai Group of islands was hit by the September 30 tsunami, with the Police reporting damage to two houses, several boats and a wharf.

Revi, a French Navy Ship is the first to arrive in Nuku‘alofa to assist in transporting much needed supplies to Niuatoputapu following the tsunami disaster that struck the island on Wednesday, September 30.

A new interim inter-island passenger vessel for Tonga is expected to be in service soon, to replace the sunken ferry MV Princess Ashika.

On August 25, 2009 a flotilla of vessels carrying about 500 mourners gathered in Ha'apai waters, around a point where four orange buoys floated in the water marking the last position of the MV Princess Ashika. They held a memorial and mass funeral ceremony at sea for the 74 people who were lost when the inter-island ferry sank on August 5. Part Three: Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.

A mass funeral ceremony at sea for the 74 people lost on the Princess Ashika on August 5, was held at midday yesterday, August 25, at the spot where the ferry sank, 11 nautical miles, south-west of Nomuka Island, in Tonga's Ha'apai Group, where about 500 people gathered on a flotilla of boats. Photos by Linny Folau on the MV Pulupaki and Pesi Fonua on the VOEA Pangai.

After 17 nights of camping in tents outside the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd. office at Queen Salote Wharf, anticipating news of relatives in the August 5 sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, bereaved families put closure to the hope of recovery and returned home on Friday July 21.

There were 128 persons on board the Princess Ashika when it left Nuku'alofa on its August 5 voyage, Operation Ashika confirmed on August 19. These have been established as: 54 rescued, 2 bodies recovered, 72 missing persons (68 passengers and 4 crew).

Fasi-moe-Afi bridegroom, Sione Valele 'Elone (43), was on his way to Ha'apai to be married to his sweetheart, Vahengalu He of Pangai. Travelling with him on the fatal voyage of the Princess Ashika on August 5 were his cousin, choir-master, Veuveuso 'Elone (34) and a friend, a North Otago rugby player, Matoni 'Aho (29).