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British woman identified as first Tonga casualty
A British woman is believed to be the first confirmed casualty of a devastating tsunami which hit Tonga on Saturday.
50-year-old Angela Glover had not been seen since large waves triggered by an underwater volcano eruption battered the main island on Saturday afternoon.
The animal charity worker from Brighton in the UK was swept away after rushing home with her husband James to rescue their dogs.
Angela’s brother Nick has now confirmed that rescuers had found her body.
Speaking from outside his mother’s home in Hove, he said: ‘Earlier today, my family was sadly informed that the body of my sister Angela has been found.’
Family devastated
‘Angela and James loved their life in Tonga and adored the Tongan people. In particular, they loved the Tongan love of family and Tongan culture.
‘During their time in Tonga, they have become well-loved by locals and expats alike.’
‘From a little girl, it was always Angela’s dream to swim with whales, and it was Tonga that gave her the opportunity that allowed her to fulfil these dreams.’
‘As you can imagine, her family is devastated and we would respectfully request that we are given privacy to grieve.’
Lack of connectivity
No other deaths have been reported but massive damage has been caused to Tonga, a country of 169 Pacific islands.
The country’s limited internet and phone networks were largely knocked out by the disaster, so the death toll may rise as officials work to establish the scale of the destruction.