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Roto Around the World
Ian Hansen, RotaConsult
Most islands are low lying and exposed to tsunami
On January 15, 2022 a volcanic eruption and tsunami ripped through the South Pacific country of Tonga, generating a plume of ash that rose >50km (31mi) and >500km (300 mi) in diameter. The volcanic blast was reportedly heard in Alaska, nearly 9,000km (6,000mi) away. It caused catastrophic damage in Tonga, with waves between 1.2m -5m (4’ -10’) hitting the island nation. Communities, roads, and airports were blanketed in thick ash, and flood waters damaged low lying infrastructure, homes, and schools. Sadly, four people lost their lives.
The damage caused by the volcanic eruption, mostly from ashfall, had a larger impact than the tsunami. Ports and wharfs were mostly damaged by the tsunami. Around 80 percent of damage to agriculture, roads, power, and water infrastructure has been attributed to ashfall.
Major undersea communication cables were cut, limiting communications to Tonga for the initial week. The eruption cut Tonga’s single international fiber-optic cable, limiting communications to the rest of the world, until it was repaired after 5 weeks.
Tonga’s population is spread across 36 islands, however 70% live on the main island of Tongatapu. An estimated 85,000
— Jyotsna Chauhan
people (85% of population) were estimated to have been affected, with over 2,000 people displaced.
Mango Island was only 32km (20mi) from the undersea volcano. All 62 residents of Mango Island had to be relocated as their homes were destroyed.
Rotomould Pacific Limited (RPL) is part of the Rotomould Group of Companies (RGC), an international company with rotational moulding operations in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Tonga.
Tonga based RPL commenced rotomoulding in 2006 and confirmed their commitment to making quality water tanks in 2017 becoming the only local moulder to receive and maintain independent certification to the internationally recognised water tank Product Standard; AS/NZS4766.
RPL has their factory on Tongatapu, located located 5km
Some of the severe damage to coastal buildings from coast and was spared the direct impact from the tsunami. However, they received significant ashfall on the buildings, vehicles, storage yard, and on top of tanks awaiting dispatch to customers. RPL were able to get their rotomoulding operation back up and running after about 1 week of cleaning, and most of the manufacturing team were able to return to work within 2 weeks. Jyotsna Chauhan, RGC Director, advised one of the biggest challenges for the business was the ability to provide drinking water for their manufacturing team. They were reliant on rainwater collected in their own tanks, however like everyone else, their water had been contaminated. The RPL team struggled to get bottled water and food Ashfall on tanks, solar panels and roofs from supermarkets due to
around the world
Damaged water tanks after tsunami hit Tonga
lack of supply and high prices. Most fresh crops were completely destroyed by the ashfall, and little was available at the local markets. RGC ended up sending drums of drinking water and food supplies from New Zealand to Tonga to help them get by while the recovery process slowly began.
The main drinking water supply for Tongan people is from home water tanks. Where available, town or municipal water is very hard water, salty to taste, and normally only used for hygiene purposes. Not ideal for drinking.
RPL had just started to get back into some state of normalcy when Tonga had to deal with its first COVID-19 outbreak, after getting its first infections from aid workers delivering humanitarian supplies from countries including Australia, China, France, Japan, and New Zealand - despite strict quarantine rules and procedures around the handling of goods.
The rotomoulding factory was again shut down, due to the enforced lockdown, until they were able to get an exemption.
One of the advantages of rotomoulded polyethylene tanks is that they are robust and able to withstand relatively large amounts of impact damage. Many of the polyethylene water tanks were expected to be recoverable, with the biggest immediate problem being access to clean drinking water. RPL have been repairing tsunami damaged tanks at no charge for customers.
The RPL factory was fully operational by March, but production of water tanks has not recovered to pre-eruption levels because Tonga has been only slowly getting back on its feet. It is expected to take many months before the Pacific Island nation returns to pre-eruption economic activity.
Australian Red Cross is one of many aid organisations seeking public support for an International Disaster Fund to raise funds for the Tongan relief effort. Donations to the Red Cross can be made at redcross.org.au/tonga.
