Shelter for people in Tonga the top priority

People without roofs or shelter are the highest priority for Tonga's Emergency Management Office.

Cyclone Gita swept through the Tongan islands of 'Eua and Tongatapu leaving most people without power and water and others without a home, three days ago.

Nearly 200 homes were completely destroyed on the islands of Tongatapu and 'Eua but Emergency Management director, Leveni 'Aho, said he knows there were a number of other people whose homes are without a roof.

It has been raining intermittently in the country since Cyclone Gita struck and Mr 'Aho said this made it even more important to reach those people.

"We know there are some people out there without roofs but we emphasise to our team and the priority of our government is to get help to those people. Shelter is, they need to get people dry so that they can sleep and do that."

Leveni 'Aho said up to 5000 people had used evacuation centres over the past few days.

"We know there are some people out there without roofs but we emphasise to our team and the priority of our government is to get help to those people. Shelter is, they need to get people dry so that they can sleep and do that."

Leveni Aho said the weather in Tonga was still not favourable and has slowed some of the efforts to clear debris from roads.

He said teams were trying their best to get to everyone.

"And that's been a challenge. It wasn't until last night that we could get the full access, the road was cleared. Because it had taken quite a long time to do that clearance, so for us to send out the assessment team and also get looking at the extent of the damage done."