Cyclone Ian: Communications cut after storm lashes Tonga's Ha'apai island group!!CAT4

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"There were no reports like that prior to the communications blackout."

Earlier on Saturday, the Category Four cyclone hit the Vava'u island group in Tonga's north, bringing winds estimated at 200 kilometres per hour.

Mr Aho says while some roofs were blown off churches in Vava'u, Ian appears to have caused less damage than expected.

"Our team is still in Vava'u going through from village to village getting assessment on the extent but by the sounds of things Vava'u has been lucky so to speak, they did not sustain too much damage as expected," he said.




[link to www.abc.net.au]