ʻAtatā is an island in Tonga, near the capital city Nukuʻalofa.[1] The island was completely evacuated after the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Before the eruption, the island's population was 106.[2]
History
editThe island was partially submerged in the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami.[3] Images from the New Zealand Defence Force showed the island suffered "catastrophic" damage with trees uprooted and a large number of buildings missing.[4] The aerial footage appeared to show the island "wiped out" by the disaster.[5] The only building that survived was reportedly the island's chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was used by villagers for shelter.[6] One local, Lisala Folau, survived 27 hours at sea by holding onto a floating log.[7]
The island was completely evacuated following the eruption and its population transferred to Tongatapu.[8] In December 2022 they were permanently resettled near the village of Masilamea.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Live: Ardern to give update on 'hugely concerning' situation in Tonga". 1 News. 16 January 2022. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "PRELIMINARY RESULT TONGA POPULATION CENSUS 2021" (PDF). Tonga Statistics Department. 24 December 2021. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Staff, Kaniva (2022-01-16). "Tongans sharing pain of relatives in kingdom as they wait for news in aftermath of devastating volcanic eruption". Kaniva Tonga | Largest NZ-based Tongan news service. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ "Leaked New Zealand military photos show scale of damage caused by Tonga volcano eruption". Guardian. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Tonga eruption, tsunami: Images appear to show most of Atatā island wiped out". RNZ. 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ "Tonga volcano: Biblical disaster shakes most Mormon nation in the world". BBC News. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ "Tonga: Survivor tells of sea escape from tsunami-struck island". BBC News. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ Barbara Dreaver (21 August 2022). "Tonga's Atata Island refugees struggle in wake of tsunami". 1News. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Tonga volcano eruption: Mango and 'Atata Islanders resettle nearly a year on from disaster". RNZ. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
21°03′00″S 175°15′04″W / 21.050°S 175.251°W
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