Pita Taufatofuathe is known on the internet as the oily, shirtless, muscular man from the 2016 and 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies. The Taekwondo Olympian from Tonga—a kingdom in the South Pacific—became a global sensation.
Now he, like so many non-resident Tongans, has been cut off from his family after an undersea volcano caused two large tsunamis swept the island nation.
On Saturday, an explosion of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano sent tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean. It ruptured the undersea communications cable, which, according to one telecom operator in Australia, could mean that Tonga could be cut off from the rest of the world for days, even weeks.
Taufatofua posted on social media that he had not been able to contact his father, or family who live by the water's edge. The Olympian has started an online fundraising campaign, saying he must focus on what is in his control.
“I have not yet heard from or about my father in Veitongo or family who are in Haapai," he wrote. "For now my focus is on what I can do from my current position and that is awareness and assistance.”
Images coming in from the NZ defence force plane of some of the islands in Tonga... Notice the thick layer of ash covering absolutely everything. These islands are normally lush and green.
— Pita Taufatofua (@pitaTofua) January 18, 2022
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Anyone wanting to assist, we have added a link in bio pic.twitter.com/0om4Z7vQoJ
His father is the newly appointed governor of the province of Haapai and was intending to return there from attending parliament when the tsunami struck.
“After getting to the airport his flight was cancelled due to the volcanic eruption. Last we heard he was securing our home in Veitongo right on the water's edge,” he wrote.
He added Haapai is a “series of lowlying islands” which would make the tsunami particularly dangerous as residents struggled to get to higher ground.
Today, the Tonga government gave its first update since the tsunami hit, saying that it has been hit by an “unprecedented disaster”.
It said some of the smaller outlying islands were particularly badly affected, with all the houses destroyed on one and just two left on another.
Aid efforts have been hampered by ash falling from the volcano.
Volunteers have been sweeping the runway of the main airport to allow planes carrying drinking water and supplies to land.
