Four years after the eruption, Tonga rebuilds with hope

Four years ago this week, Tonga was shaken by one of the most powerful eruptions in modern history when the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai submarine volcano exploded, sending ash into the sky and triggering tsunamis across the Pacific.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Tongan royal family member Frederica Tuita recalls the moment the eruption struck.

“We weren’t so scared until we heard the eruption, the boom,” she says. “We didn’t hold our ears, we held our chests because it was so powerful.”

The volcano, located about 65 kilometres northwest of Tongatapu, erupted on 15 January 2022. Ash blanketed much of the country and tsunami waves measuring more than 13 metres later struck parts of Tongatapu, killing at least four people and causing widespread damage.

In the days following the eruption, Tongan student Vika Tukuafu, speaking from Australia, described the fear of losing contact with family and the shock of seeing homes and livelihoods destroyed.

“It was terrifying… and that will have a massive impact on the people that earn their living there. But at the same time, we were grateful they were still alive,” she told ABC News in 2022.

Watch Frederica Tuita's full interview here

Tuita says the King of Tonga, who was on the island of ‘Eua at the time, ordered the gates of one of the royal estates on higher ground to be opened to the public.

“He opened up the house and I was telling a lot of the young mothers to come in with all their children as the ash was still falling outside.

“That convinced them to come in because they were unsure. They knew that the house is special and they didn't want to overstep their boundaries and I told them this is not a time to think of that.”

The royal estate "Villa" owned by Princess Lātūfuipeka which the King opened to the public to take shelter in. Photo/Supplied

In the days that followed, Tonga received emergency support from the international community, including help to restore clean water, provide temporary shelter, and rebuild damaged homes and infrastructure.

One of the hardest-hit communities was the island of ‘Atatā, which was later declared unsafe for long-term living. Its residents were permanently relocated, a move Tuita says has changed daily life for many families.

“Their greatest struggle is trying to find this new way of life because they had such a simple way of life on the island, every day was just them waking up and their food was what they fished fresh from the ocean.”

'Atatā Island is a small, scenic island in Tonga, near the capital Tongatapu, known for its beaches and reefs, but its permanent population was evacuated after the devastating 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption and tsunami. Photo'Supplied

As Tonga marks four years since the eruption, signs of recovery are beginning to emerge. Tuita says families from the Tongan diaspora in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States are returning home to start small businesses and help rebuild their communities.

As Tonga marks the anniversary, the Kingdom remembers those who lost their lives while communities reflect on what has been rebuilt and what still lies ahead.

“It's given us a renewed sense of community and that's what we in the island here have always lived with and want to continue is our sense of community,” Tuita says.