Tongans from overseas are eagerly awaiting the news of the eruption Volcanos Stories

The volcanic eruption and tsunami separated communications with Tonga, leaving the Pacific Ocean in isolation.

Tongans living abroad eagerly await the news of their loved ones later powerful volcanic eruption and the tsunami cut off communication with the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Tensions among 85,000 Tongan people in New Zealand escalated on Monday with news that a two-week reunion would be restored following the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption on Saturday.

Apart from leaving people in the dark about the future of their loved ones, the lack of internet threatens Tongan people who rely on remittances from foreign relatives.

“I think the worst thing is the power outage and we don’t know anything,” said Filipo Motulalo, a New Zealand correspondent for Pacific Media Network. “There is no communication,” he added.

“Our house is in a group near the floodwaters, so we do not know how much damage there is.

Shairana Ali, executive director of Save the Children Fiji, told Al Jazeera from Suva’s Fiji headquarters that things in Tonga were “very bad”.

“There is an urgent need for food and water because there is a serious collapse of the ash and as a result water sources have been polluted on many of the affected islands,” he said.

“We are also concerned about fresh air. And our concern is for the children who are obviously suffering from the traumatic event. ”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says government officials have joined forces with Tuku’s capital, Nuku’alofa, following a tsunami that swept across the Pacific coast from Japan to the United States and sounded as far away as Alaska . and Finland.

New Zealand was informed that there were no reports of deaths or injuries in the capital, but there were “severe” damage in some areas.

“I would say we are worried, not scared,” said Auckland Tongan Community secretary Kennedy Maeakafa Fakana’ana’a-ki-Fualu.

“We hope everyone is well. We acknowledge that the internet has a problem but we hope for the best, “he told AFP.

Image courtesy of Japan’s Himawari-8 satellite [The National Institute of Information and Communications/handout via AFP]

Fakana’ana’a-ki-Fualu, who plans to send containers of relief supplies to Tonga, said the cable crisis was a major problem for families relying on Tongan people in New Zealand.

“That will be a problem and we need to look at other options,” the secretary of state said, adding that he hoped that the Tongan government, with the support of New Zealand and Australia, “would be able to take action to help.”

Air New Zealand, meanwhile, has suspended a flight back to Tonga due to volcanic ash.

The plane was due to depart from Auckland on Thursday.

“We pray that God will help our country during this difficult time. We hope everyone is well, “Maikeli Atiola, secretary of the Wesleyan Church in Tonga, Auckland, told Radio New Zealand.