23 Apr 2015

Tongan leader's house wrecked by fire

8:05 pm on 23 April 2015

Authorities say the residence of the Prime Minister of Tonga has been rendered uninhabitable by a fire.

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Tonga Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.

Tonga Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva. Photo: RNZ

The fire service was called to the house which 'Akilisi Pohiva shares with his wife, son and daughter-in-law.

The Prime Minister and his wife are currently in Auckland, where Mrs Pohiva has been receiving medical care, but Mr Pohiva is due to return this weekend.

The Tonga Fire Commissioner Lofia Heimuli says the house will have to be demolished.

"When the fire was completely out everything inside the house was already affected. More than 90% of the contents were affected. Part of it is luckily smoke damage but most of it's affected by flames. It cannot be used for living anymore."

Lofia Heimuli says a cause for the fire has not yet been established.