Mango (Tonga)

Mango

Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Administration
Tonga
Demographics
Population	62 (2021)

Mango is a small island in Tonga, 9 kilometres south-east of the larger island of Nomuka, and part of the Nomuka or ʻOtu Muʻomuʻa group of islands, which are the southern part of the Haʻapai group. Mango had a population of 62 in the 2021 census.[1]

History

The island was badly damaged by the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Following the eruption, a distress call was detected from the island.[2] Images from the New Zealand Defence Force showed that it had suffered "catastrophic" damage,[3] with an entire village destroyed.[4] According to the Tongan government, all homes on the island were destroyed, and a 65-year-old man was killed.[5] After the eruption, the entire island was evacuated, and the inhabitants were bought to Tongatapu by the Tongan Maritime Force.[6] After living at a church hall in Nuku'alofa for almost a year, they were eventually resettled on ʻEua.[7]

References

1. "PRELIMINARY RESULT TONGA POPULATION CENSUS 2021" (PDF). Tonga Statistics Department. 24 December 2021. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
2. "Distress signal prompts UN concern after Tonga volcanic eruption". RNZ. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
3. "Leaked New Zealand military photos show scale of damage caused by Tonga volcano eruption". Guardian. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
4. "Tsunami-hit Tonga islands suffered extensive damage, fears death toll to rise". RNZ. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
5. "Tongan government confirms all homes on Mango destroyed, fears death toll to rise". RNZ. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
6. "62 survivors from Mango Island evacuated safely to Tongatapu". Matangi Tonga. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
7. "Tonga volcano eruption: Mango and 'Atata Islanders resettle nearly a year on from disaster". RNZ. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.

20.329°S 174.709°W / -20.329; -174.709