Every year, people in the Pacific Islands suffer the effects of tropical cyclones and tropical depressions, which often damage or even completely destroy their simple homes, making their lives even more difficult and challenging.

In December 2020, Cyclone Yasa ripped through the Islands of Fiji, claiming two lives and leaving many families without roofs, and destroying essential amenities (toilets and kitchens). Three families from our church in Labasa, Vanua Levu lost their homes completely and our church property also suffered damage:

At the end of January 2021, heavy rain overnight in Fiji  caused flooding, especially on the island of Vanua Levu, as the country was hit by yet another tropical depression.  Parts of the ceiling of our Mission Centre in Sabeto, Viti Levu, partially collapsed, and in Labasa, Vanua Levu, several families, members of the Orthodox parish there, needed to escape from their flooded homes and find temporary shelter in the church and the house of the priest, which was also leaking, though not flooded.  

In mid-October 2023, Tonga experienced a significant volcanic eruption that captured global attention. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano, known for its previous major eruption in January 2022, awakened once more, sending plumes of ash and steam high into the atmosphere. This latest eruption was notable for its intensity, leading to a tsunami in the region.

The eruption began with a series of explosive blasts, accompanied by tremors that shook nearby islands. Ash clouds reached several kilometers into the sky, affecting air travel and visibility in the area. Local authorities issued warnings to residents, advising them to stay indoors to avoid ash inhalation and to prepare for possible evacuations.