One dead, hundreds homeless in Tonga

Tongan Red Cross officials are reporting that relief supplies are beginning to reach the thousands of Tongans left without shelter by cyclone Ian, which had wind speeds gusting over 250 km/h when it made landfall in the Ha’api island group, causing ‘tornado-like’ destruction. Oxfam New Zealand reported that significant work would be required in order to repair the islands’ infrastructure, including a ferry terminal, the port and roads throughout the affected area. Tonga Power Ltd. reported that they would need over TOP 3 million in order to repair the local power distribution network.

Initial impact reports indicate that between 50% and 70% of homes were destroyed on the worst-hit islands.

This article was written by

Dan McGarry

http://www.imagicity.com

Dan McGarry is chief technologist at the Pacific Insititute of Public Policy. He has worked in the Pacific for over a decade now, assisting in numerous capacities in the development of ICTs in Vanuatu and the Pacific. He has extensive experience in technology policy formulation and implementation as well as in traditional and new media. He still writes software.

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