The State of Emergency declared for Vava’u and Ha’apai cancelled. ^Featured

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni told the media on Wednesdy 6th January that the State of Emergency declared by Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva on January 1 was cancelled at 10pm on Monday night 5th January following an assessment of the situation on Vava’u. The recommendation for the cancellation was put forward by the Disaster Task Force set up late last week to monitor and prepare for Cyclone Ula, a Category 3 cyclone that eventually swept past Tonga on Saturday evening.

Hon Sovaleni said the assessment team that visited Vava’u on a chartered flight on Monday 5 were convinced that there was no need for the State of Emergency to continue as there was no major damage on the island. The New Zealand Government funded the charter flight to Vava’u which took representatives from the different government departments for a first-hand inspection of the island and assess the damage as well.

Hon Sovaleni said Tonga was lucky to have escaped the full wrath of the cyclone and thanked the partner departments and organisations who had worked with the National Emergency Management Office, which included Tonga Police, His Majesty’s Armed Forces, the Red Cross and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He said the major issue for government was that there was no major damage to infrastructure, housing and that there was no lives lost.

“We were able to do a round visit and we had the chance to see the crops and visited the hospital and everything was in a good condition.” There were 16 Evacuation Centres in Vava’u and (three) 3 in Ha’apai set up. Most of these centres included halls belonging to the Church of the Latter Day Saints plus those belonging to other churches in Vava’u. Almost 500 people had taken refuge in the centres and returned home soon after it was declared that Cyclone Ula had travelled past Vava’u.

Hon Sovaleni thanked the media and said the media had played a major role in raising awareness and also updating the people of Tonga on the cyclone’s location and updates from the weather office. “One of the key sector that really helps out during this time is the Media and Communications. We try to use media as much as we can to inform the people,” he said. The Director of Meteorology, ‘Ofa Fa’anunu said that this has been the second cyclone this cyclone season.

He also stated that Government’s decision to declared a State of Emergency before the cyclone reaches Tonga was good as it was a “proactive measure” that ensured everyone was prepared for what could happen. Mr Fa’anunu also thanked all the partners who worked with them. “It is a success and we are hoping to continue with this system in the future,” he said.

The Director of NEMO, Mr Leveni ‘Aho said they were grateful to all their partners who helped in the preparedness phase. He said the co-operation meant that everyone was able to work together in one accord. Hon Sovaleni added that both Vava’u and Ha’apai had been saved, with all systems like telecommunication, power and water working without any problems.

MEIDECC