6 Jan 2016

State of Emergency lifted in Tonga after cyclone does little

9:08 am on 6 January 2016

Tonga's government has lifted the State of Emergency that was declared for Vava'u and Ha'apai ahead of tropical cyclone Ula on Friday.

The government declared the emergency on New Year's Day, ahead of Ula's arrival, saying it was to prevent or minimise the loss of human life, property loss and damage.

The category three system passed on Saturday, causing little damage.

Radio Tonga reports that the deputy prime minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, this morning announced that the emergency has been lifted, saying its declaration ahead of the cyclone had been successful.

Mr Sovaleni says the government is pleased with way in which people responded, with many families able to seek shelter well before the cyclone's arrival.

Cyclone Ula has weakened to a category one system and is now about 400 kilometres south of Fiji and moving in is a westerly direction.

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