Tonga: It will take “at least” four weeks to repair the submarine cable – World Today News

New Zealand’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday it would take at least a month to repair an undersea communications cable connecting the Tonga islands – devastated by a volcanic eruption and tsunami – with the rest of the world.

“The US cable subsidiary says it will take at least four weeks to restore connection to Tonga,” the department said in an update on the disaster, which has cut the tiny Pacific nation off from the rest of the world since Saturday.

What little communication has since been made possible by a few satellite phones, most of which are maintained by foreign embassies in the capital, Nuku’alofa.

difficult repair

According to the company, there are two separate breaks in the cable, one located 37 kilometers from the shore and the other a local cable close to the volcano, which makes it difficult to repair.

A repair ship is currently on its way from neighboring Papua New Guinea.

Mobile operator Digicel has brought back some essential second-generation domestic services, but warned that restoring international connections may still be a long way off.

Kacific, which is involved in a contract dispute with the government of Tonga, has been contacted.

“We have not yet reached out to the government to discuss our services,” Cassivic director Christian Batoro told AFP.

The World Health Organization said in a statement on Tuesday that Tonga’s liaison officer, Yotaro Sitoya, is responsible for communications between UN agencies and the local government.