ʻAtatā

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

The 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

^ "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 / -21.050; -175.251

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[1NewsLIVE-1] "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.

[2021census-2] "PRELIMINARY RESULT TONGA POPULATION CENSUS 2021" (PDF). Tonga Statistics Department. 24 December 2021. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

[3] 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.

[4] "Leaked New Zealand military photos show scale of damage caused by Tonga volcano eruption". Guardian. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.

[5] "Tonga eruption, tsunami: Images appear to show most of Atatā island wiped out". RNZ. 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

[6] "Tonga volcano: Biblical disaster shakes most Mormon nation in the world". BBC News. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.

[7] "Tonga: Survivor tells of sea escape from tsunami-struck island". BBC News. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-22.

[8] Barbara Dreaver (21 August 2022). "Tonga's Atata Island refugees struggle in wake of tsunami". 1News. Retrieved 21 August 2022.

[9] "Tonga volcano eruption: Mango and 'Atata Islanders resettle nearly a year on from disaster". RNZ. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.