The Unforgettable Sound Of Thunder

Nearly a year into the most disastrous experience for a Pacific Island country, people are left with deep wounds in their minds and heart of a “thunder” they cannot forget.

January 15, 2022 has become an unforgettable date for the people of Tonga as they are reminded of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption that destroyed parts of the Island Nation forcing families to relocate, leaving their homes and livelihoods behind.

Francis Latu Prescott will never forget that day that turned grey and left many families heartbroken.

“I was out in the garden when I noticed the dogs and chicken were acting funny and that is when I heard the huge bang,” said Ms. Prescott.

She talked about her experience of how she was left running for her life with just a backpack and her phone in the hopes to get up to Kings Vila Chauter for safety.

“Most of the neighbors had already evacuated in Sopu and I was running on my own when a generous couple picked me up and dropped me at the Kings Vila Chauter. It was very scary because by then the ash had come down and it became very dark and there were so many people.

“At that moment when everything is happening you are just running for survival trying to get to a safe place. Luckily, I was able to get in contact with some family members. My brother was the most scared for me as he was the last person to speak to me and while I was explaining to him the situation, the lines cut off and we lost all connectivity,” said Ms. Prescott.

She explained what a heart shattering experience it was for her family abroad who were seeing the news of what had happened in Tonga and were not able to connect with her to know if she was safe.

Ms. Prescott heard about the Satellite phone calls being offered by the Tonga Red Cross under their program “Restoring Family Links” which is funded and supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

She reached out to the office and was able to connect with her sister and mum in New Zealand and informed them that she was safe.

“I felt relieved after speaking to my family and that prompted my decision in becoming a volunteer to help the Tonga Red Cross during this challenging time,” said Ms. Prescott.

With tears in her eyes, she stressed that a year later it is still so sad to see that some houses are still not rebuilt yet and basic resources are not available to families in Tonga.

“Volunteering for the Tonga Red Cross helped me in healing the wounds and scars caused by the disaster. It helped knowing I was out in the community helping people in some way,” explained Ms. Prescott.

Source: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)