15 Feb 2023

Tongan orchard workers rescued from flooded accommodation

From First Up, 5:17 am on 15 February 2023

About 50 Tongan orchard workers who were trapped by raging floodwaters on rooftops have now been rescued. A helicopter had to make the attempt to get them to dry land because the torrent surrounding them was too strong for a boat. A community leader says families in Tonga watched on as their relatives filmed while perched on roofs surrounded by tree tops. Our correspondent in Tonga, Kalafi Moala, spoke with Nathan Rarere.