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UPDATE: Around 50 RSE workers from Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai are receiving help from their employer Mr Apple following the floods. Tongan RSE liaison officer Tevita Lata has been in touch with the group and is sadly unable to reach them due to damage in the area where the workers are located.
Thankfully there is no report of any injuries at the moment. The priority now is to get the workers to safety and assess their health etc. Unfortunately their belongings are all wet and damaged. Officials in Tonga have been informed and will work with their New Zealand counterpart.
Tongan RSE worker Malietoa Tu’imoala (22) known as Lie works for Mr Apple in Hastings. This morning he posted a video on his Facebook page of dark brown water flooding their work cabins and destroying all their belongings. The men have used their vehicles and picnic tables to climb to the roof of their cabins for safety. Although safe, they are drenched and it is cold.
Malietoa is heard in the video speaking in Tongan “as you can see the water will just keep going to the roof.”
The video shows other workers floating on a mattress and even using a fridge as a floating device to get to the roof of their cabins. They have small bags, a suitcase of what they could save and only the clothing they have on. The power was cut last night and Lie’s phone has since died.
His older brother Jay Tu’imoala based in Tauranga only found out this morning, like everyone else, when it was posted on Facebook. He has been trying to get hold of Lie and another sibling, Kesipa Tu’imoala, who is also in the same group.
Lie has been working in New Zealand since last year and in the last video he posted they are all on the roof, others are having food they could gather and making contact with family members while their phones are working.
The Tongan RSE liaison officer Mr Tevita Lata has been in touch with Mr Apple who are coordinating rescue efforts for the workers via the Civil Defence.
They will move the group to an evacuation centre while they wait for the water to clear. Lata has been trying to get to the workers but has been unable to as multiple bridges are closed across the region.
