ORDINARY TONGAN LIVES - 'ATATĀ ISLAND TSUNAMI SURVIVOR
Story collated and written by Haitelenisia Afemui ‘Uhila Angilau for her 'Ordinary Tongan Lives' facebook page. She is currently covering survivors stories from the Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption and subsequent tsunami.
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“It happened so quickly and suddenly that we were completely unprepared. We were going about our Saturday chores when I heard one grandchild from the beach, ‘Nana! There’s a wave coming all the way to our wild hibiscus tree! It’s coming Nana! It’s here!’
At first you’re confused but you quickly snap out of it and yell, ‘Run! Come, let’s run!’ We gathered all the grandkids and ran to higher ground with my children. Some of their parents are overseas for fruitpicking while I care for them. My husband was still inside the house when we ran. He later came looking for us. Talaiasi Seni’s house was our first place of refuge as it’s on elevated ground.
Many other mothers and children from the village joined us there. When the first explosion sounded, we had already seen big waves crashing in the middle of the village, taking our houses with it. We decided to run further to even higher ground. That meant heading to the bush.
I tell you, the cries and echoes of prayers from mothers and children were heard throughout. ʻJesus, please save us. Oh Jesus, let us live.’ That was repeatedly called out that evening into the night. Even I could no longer be quiet as I cried out in prayer. When everyone settled on higher ground in the midst of a manioke plantation, I asked if we can all say a prayer. I said, ‘We have nowhere else to run now. If it’s God’s will that we die, we will do so gratefully. But let us call on Him first.’ And so we sat down in the midst of the bush. Some held onto trees and some hid in the bushes. But every single one of us uttered our most sincere prayers to God for our lives.”
“We heard the rest of the big explosions from the bush. When the ashes came down as if it was raining rocks, the waves had subsided so we ran back to town. Some of us mothers took off clothing to shelter the infants and the youngest ones. We came and filled 3 houses that were in tact and close to the bush. Most of us were soaked wet. Our men were out looking for those who were swept away by the waves.
On Sunday morning, we were very thirsty. Fortunately, the boys collected coconuts for us to drink. But we needed water and we hoped for a rescue boat. It finally arrived on Sunday afternoon. We were overcome with emotion when we saw the boat from afar. Everyone rushed to shore hoping to be on board first for the sake of the children. The thought of another wave or another eruption were not far from our minds. More than 50 of us came on that first trip. What a relief when we stepped onto Tongatapu’s wharf!
Together, we gathered for another prayer of thanksgiving before our relatives, friends, and acquaintances picked us up to live with them. That’s where we are now as we wait on direction from government. There’s a yearning to be back home. But there’s only very few houses, a church, and a school building standing there. Everything else is gone. The middle of the island has long ditches running across from the waves. It’s only been a week but the memory of it all will take a while to go away.
Last night, my daughter called at 2:30am asking me what noise she’s hearing. Imediately, I panicked. Every noise, even a roaring vehicle can strike fear. That’s a reality we have to live with now. But our family have always favored Psalm 23 as our guide and direction. Although we’ve walked through the valley of death, we will not fear. Because the Lord is our Shepherd. We are here, with these 10 grandchildren, because He heard our cries.”