‘It scared the heck out of me’: Utah Tongan community still in shock over volcano’s destruction
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An image made from video provided by Broadcom Broadcasting shows a damaged Latter-day Saints church on the Tongan island of Atata on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, the day after tsunami caused by a volcanic eruption near Tonga. Emotions are still running high in the Tongan community of Utah after a massive volcano eruption and tsunami in the island nation just over a week ago. Kilo Folau, Broadcom Broadcasting via AP
Emotions are still running high in the Tongan community of Utah after a massive volcano eruption and tsunami in the island nation just over a week ago.
Ivoni Nash hosts a Tongan radio show in Salt Lake City that airs live once a week. The latest show on Sunday included many Utahns who still can’t believe what happened.
Many were still trying to reach loved ones on the islands.
“They are still in awe. They are really sad and there is a lot of crying on the radio. There are lots of crying people,” said an emotional Nash.
Nash is also the program director at the National Tongan American Society in Murray, a nonprofit organization that helps Pacific Islanders. She remembers last weekend very well when that massive volcano eruption hit followed by a deadly tsunami.
“It scared the heck out of me. It shook my whole body,” she said. “It’s really scary because I haven’t gotten ahold of anyone I know.”
Fahina Tavake-Pasi who is the executive director of the organization said she also spent a lot of time crying.
“The first thing to come to mind is like, cry,” said an emotional Tavake-Pasi as she thinks about what happened in Tonga. “You feel helpless because you can’t do anything. The community back there is our family, our relatives, our friends and neighbors.”
Tavake-Pasi said she, too, is still trying to reach loved ones. She’s also reached out to Tonga’s prime minister to see what Utahns can do to help.
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Getting supplies from Utah to Tonga is nearly impossible because of the distance and difficulty of actually getting on the island.
The National Tongan American Society has set up a GoFundMe account for those who want to help.
Tavake-Pasi said the only comfort is that the blast killed three people when it could have been so much worse.
“It’s a total miracle the way it blew up and how close Tonga is to where it blew up. It’s amazing that whole island didn’t go under,” Tavake-Pasi said.
In this photo released by the Tonga Red Cross Society, Red Cross teams set up a temporary shelter in Sopu, Nukualofa, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, as the Tonga island group grapples with the aftermath from the recent underwater volcanic eruption. (Tonga Red Cross Society via AP) | Tonga Red Cross Society via AP
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This image made from video provided by Broadcom Broadcasting shows a damaged boat on the Tongan island of Atata, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, the day after tsunami caused by a volcanic eruption near Tonga. (Kilo Folau/Broadcom Broadcasting via AP) | Kilo Folau, Broadcom Broadcasting via AP
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This photo provided by Broadcom Broadcasting shows a damaged area in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, following Saturday's volcanic eruption near the Pacific archipelago. The first flight carrying fresh water and other aid to Tonga was finally able to leave Thursday after the Pacific nation's main airport runway was cleared of ash left by the eruption. (Marian Kupu/Broadcom Broadcasting via AP) | Marian Kupu, Broadcom Broadcasting via AP
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This photo provided by Broadcom Broadcasting shows a damaged area in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, following Saturday's volcanic eruption near the Pacific archipelago. The first flight carrying fresh water and other aid to Tonga was finally able to leave Thursday after the Pacific nation's main airport runway was cleared of ash left by the eruption. (Marian Kupu/Broadcom Broadcasting via AP) | Marian Kupu, Broadcom Broadcasting via AP
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In this photo provided by the Australian Defence Force, personnel unload emergency aid supplies at Tonga's Fuaʻamotu International Airport, near Nukuʻalofa, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, after a volcano eruption. U.N. humanitarian officials report that about 84,000 people — more than 80% of Tonga's population — have been impacted by the volcano's eruption. (LACW Emma Schwenke/Australia Defence Force via AP) | Emma Schwenke, Australia Defence Force via AP
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In this photo provided by the Australian Defense Force, soldiers load onto HMAS Adelaide at the Port of Brisbane before departing for Tonga Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, after a volcano eruption. Nearly two dozen sailors aboard the Adelaide have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday, Jan 25, 2022, raising fears they could bring the disease to Tonga which has so far managed to avoid any outbreaks. (CPL Robert Whitmore/Australia Defense Force via AP) | Robert Whitmore, Australia Defense Force via AP
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Dolphins play in the heavy tsunami surf at north Salmon Creek State Beach, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, north of Bodega Bay, Calif. The entire West Coast was under a tsunami warning or advisory, following a massive undersea volcanic explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat via AP) | Kent Porter, The Press Democrat via AP
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