Mango (Tonga)
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Administration | |
Tonga | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 62 (2021) |
Mango is a small island in Tonga, 9 kilometres south-east of the larger island of Nomuka, and part of the Nomuka or ʻOtu Muʻomuʻa group of islands, which are the southern part of the Haʻapai group. Mango had a population of 62 in the 2021 census.[1]
History
The island was badly damaged by the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Following the eruption, a distress call was detected from the island.[2] Images from the New Zealand Defence Force showed that it had suffered "catastrophic" damage,[3] with an entire village destroyed.[4] According to the Tongan government, all homes on the island were destroyed, and a 65-year-old man was killed.[5] After the eruption, the entire island was evacuated, and the inhabitants were bought to Tongatapu by the Tongan Maritime Force.[6] After living at a church hall in Nuku'alofa for almost a year, they were eventually resettled on ʻEua.[7]
Tongan delegates attending international and UN-organised conferences in 2022 had advised people to look at these relocations, because of the eruption, and how it was similar displacements could result from the escalating climate crisis - thus creating climate refugees.[7]
The resettlement of Atafa and Mango is not the first time a Tongan island had been evacuated due to a natural disaster. In 1946 the Kingdom's northernmost island of Niuafoʻou was temporarily abandoned due to a volcanic eruption. It was later resettled in 1958. However, the evacuations of Atafa and Mango are likely to be permanent. Islanders remain hoping to go back. [7]
References
- ^ "PRELIMINARY RESULT TONGA POPULATION CENSUS 2021" (PDF). Tonga Statistics Department. 24 December 2021. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Distress signal prompts UN concern after Tonga volcanic eruption". RNZ. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Leaked New Zealand military photos show scale of damage caused by Tonga volcano eruption". Guardian. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Tsunami-hit Tonga islands suffered extensive damage, fears death toll to rise". RNZ. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Tongan government confirms all homes on Mango destroyed, fears death toll to rise". RNZ. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "62 survivors from Mango Island evacuated safely to Tongatapu". Matangi Tonga. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Tonga volcano eruption: Mango and 'Atata Islanders resettle nearly a year on from disaster". RNZ. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
20°19′44″S 174°42′32″W / 20.329°S 174.709°W / -20.329; -174.709
