Ninth Since 1853
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Bad Eruption At
Niuafo'ou
THE island of Niuafo’ou (“Tin-can Island”) an outlier of the Tongan Group, about 400 miles from Nukua lofa, has again been devastated by a vol canic eruption.
The outburst was first reported on Monday, September 16, by the pilot of a RNZAF plane flying between Auckland and Samoa. The island’s radio had been put out of action by the first volcanic shock.
The pilot, attracted by much smoke, flew over and saw what was happening.
Lava was creeping across the northern part of the island, which is 31 miles long by three miles wide. The administrative village and landing place at Agaha, on the north coast, had been overwhelmed.
People, gathered on a bare space inland, a former lavafield, had spelled out the letters SOS by laying cloths on the ground.
The Tongan Government vessel “Hifo fua,” which had that day arrived at Nukualofa from Niuafo’ou, was imme diately ordered back, with supplies, and she arrived on September 21. Other ships nearby were asked by radio to call and give any help necessary.
They reported on September 23 that the eruption, and damage by lava, had been serious along the northern coast.
All Government buildings, the radio station, the stores, copra sheds, boats, and the Mission buildings had been des troyed. The craters still were smoking, but the eruptions had died down.
There had been no loss of life, and the main food crops had escaped.
Since Europeans made contact with this region, there have been nine vol canic eruptions on Niuafo’ou —in 1853, 1867, 1886, 1912, 1929, 1935, 1936, 1943 and 1946. The worst were 1853, 1886, 1929 and 1946. Niuafo’ou once was famed as a garden island, but these various lava flows have destroyed all the famous plantations and gardens except the areas towards the north-east. There is still enough undespoiled ground left to support the 1200 native people, how ever.
Because there is no sheltered anchor age, passing vessels used to deliver the mail in a sealed tin to a swimmer, who came out from the boats’ landing-place, pushing a sealed tin-can with the out going mail. Thus, Niuafo’ou became fam ous among world’s philatelists for its “Tincan” mail.