When ‘Eleni Via, 67, lived on Atatā Island, her family could live off the land and the sea, subsisting on crops from her garden and fresh seafood from the sea.
But in the last year life has changed dramatically. Now they are struggling in a new home, trying to cultivate a land that is not as fertile as it should be. For the first time in her life, Via has to think about how to pay the water and electric bills while making ends meet. On Atatā, they could rely on fishing to meet their basic needs and earn an income. In her new home on the country’s main island, Tongatapu, she wakes up every day wondering how to provide for her family.
Like many Tongans, Via’s life was turned upside down on January 15, 2022 when the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted. Satellite images showing the incredible size of the eruption were broadcast across the world, but when the world’s eyes turned to Tonga, the country disappeared. Damage to the undersea cable that powers Tonga’s internet and much of its communications infrastructure meant the extent of the disaster was unknown for days.
When the government was finally able to issue a statement, the news was devastating: the eruption had triggered a tsunami that inundated several of the country’s islands. 84% of Tonga’s population was affected by the tsunami or the volcanic ash.
Residents who had lost their homes were relocated to the main island of Tongatapu. The government spoke of an “unprecedented catastrophe”. The World Bank estimated the cost at US$90.4 million – equivalent to 18.5% of Tonga’s GDP – with the majority of these costs going towards the resettlement and reconstruction of tsunami-hit villages.
Eleni Via with her husband Ma’uhe’ofa Via and granddaughter Tu’aloa in front of their new home in Masilamea, Tongatapu. Photo: Israel Mesake Taukolo/The GuardianAtatā was among the worst hit. The New Zealand Defense Force described the damage on the island as “catastrophic” and a UN assessment found dozens of buildings had been damaged while the entire island was blanketed in ash
A year later, Via with her husband Ma’uhe’ofa Via and granddaughter Tu’aloa finally left the home of the relatives they had been staying with since the tsunami and moved to a settlement of new houses in the village of Masilamea, Tongatapu .
“We are very happy to be based here. Our island home was ruined. We are thankful for [what] we got … for free,” says Via.
The house has a bedroom, a bathroom and a toilet, a porch where all meals are prepared and the food is cooked outside on a fire. They have few utensils and plates. Via longs for a kitchen to prepare food and a storage room.
Housing remains a problem in parts of the country after many homes were damaged or destroyed by the tsunami.
Across the island, in the village of Patangata, lives Mosese Sikulu Mafi, 61, whose family lives across from the sea and witnessed the devastation of the tsunami firsthand.
Despite widespread damage, only six new homes were built in his community. The government has promised ten, but Mafi says even that won’t be enough.
“Currently, many houses need to be rebuilt. The problem is that there is no equal distribution and the surveys conducted do not reflect the reality of living conditions.”
Mosese Sikulumafi’s home in Patangata village was damaged by the tsunami. Photo: Israel Mesake Taukolo/The GuardianIn order to protect people from another tsunami, he suggests building the bank higher and installing another emergency exit.
“Right now the only way out of Patangata is by the sea road and we hope to have a secondary road that will take us directly inland in case of future tsunami emergencies.”
However, Mafi remains grateful — his family still has the sea at their disposal, which produces fish and seafood that they sell roadside. And despite the devastation, no one in his community was killed in the tsunami.
“I’m just grateful it happened during the day like it happened at night, a lot of kids would have died,” he says.
“We lost everything. I don’t think anyone escaped the wrath of the tsunami.”
Few can escape his memories. Mafi says that during the last earthquake, the national tsunami siren went off and everyone ran inland.
Many children are particularly affected. Via’s granddaughter is only five years old but lives in fear that another tsunami could happen at any moment.
“When there’s lightning and thunder, or there’s high winds and heavy rain, she turns to me, ‘Will there be another tsunami?’ I tell her, ‘No. It’s just rain and high winds.’”
In the meantime, as Via puts it, “let’s put our trust in God again.”