Tonga, a South Pacific archipelago of 176 islands, was hit by Cyclone Ian Saturday, with winds up to 178 miles per hour. At least one person was killed, and authorities are still searching remote islands for more victims.

Authorities were searchingTonga'sremote islands for cyclone victims Sunday after a powerful storm cut a swath of destruction through this South Pacific archipelago, killing one person and destroying most of the homes in some areas.

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Relief efforts following Saturday's cyclone were concentrating on the Ha'apai islands one ofTonga'sthree island groups between the main island of Tongatapu in the south and the Vava'u islands to the north,Tonga'sDirector of Emergencies Leveni Aho said.

Cyclone Ian hitTongawith gusts of up to 178 miles per hour. The storm was later downgraded from Category 5 the most destructive level to Category 4, with gusts of up to 155 mph. On Sunday, the cyclone was tracking southeast away fromTonga.

Two navy patrol boats carrying tarpaulins, tents and other emergency supplies left Tongatapu to bring help to victims who were cut off in the Ha'apai islands.

Authorities have been unable to make telephone contact with 23 islands, which account for most of the inhabited islands in the Ha'apai group, Aho said.

"The patrol boats are still out there, going from island to island to scout for information," he said.

The Ha'apai islands are home to 8,000 people, most of whom live on the devastated islands of Lifuka, where the person died, and Foa.

Original post:

Tonga slammed by Category 5 cyclone, 1 killed