NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga » Tongans living in Hawaii were relieved at preliminary reports of no deaths from Tropical Cyclone Rene.

But they were still worried as some were unable to contact relatives on their respective islands, and the Tongan government continued yesterday to conduct an assessment of damage in outlying areas.

Communications from the capital to other islands were being restored early today after being cut for much of yesterday.

The Rev. Eddie Kelemeni of the First United Methodist Church in Honolulu said he tried to call Tonga twice yesterday morning and was unable to get through because of downed telephone lines.

Kelemeni said he has known tropical cyclones blowing up to 120 mph in Tonga but never as much as Rene—gusting to 143 mph.

Members of his congregation, which prayed Sunday for the well-being of the people in Tonga, were monitoring the situation in Tonga, where many have relatives.

Kelemeni estimated that about 20,000 Tongans live in Hawaii.

Rene pounded Tonga, causing major damage to buildings in the capital, Nuku'alofa, tearing off roofs, downing trees and cutting power and phone lines in the South Pacific island nation.

When phone service was restored early yesterday, Hawaii time, police in the capital said they had no immediate reports of death or injury during the storm that hammered the kingdom's three main island groups for more than 24 hours.

“;There's a lot of damage. A lot of shops, restaurants and offices in the city have lost their roofs, and a lot of houses are also damaged,”; Inspector Tatiko Kanfusi said from Nuku'alofa on the main island of Tongatapu.

“;Lots of trees are down across roads, but it's still dark and we'll be starting to assess what's happened after daybreak.”;

Prior to losing contact, the Ha'apai island group—in the center of the archipelago—faced “;very destructive hurricane-force winds”; with gusts of 143 mph, the Meteorological Office said.

In the northern Vava'u islands group, contact was lost early yesterday just after Rene hit. Coastal areas flooded as roiling seas surged ashore.

Tonga's police commander, Chris Kelley, said no deaths or injuries had been reported in Vava'u, and the biggest impact so far has been on crops.

“;We are aware of some damage to buildings but nothing serious at this stage,”; he told the Associated Press from Nuku'alofa.

Kelley said heavy rain flooded many areas, while powerful winds tore down banana palms and fruit from mango and breadfruit trees.

National Disaster Management Office Deputy Director Mali'u Takai said at one point yesterday it became too dangerous to go outside.

“;It's so noisy, it's like ... a locomotive is running around. It's getting bad now. Hopefully this is the worst part of it,”; he told National Radio.

Hank Gros, who runs a tourism business in Vava'u, said residents faced up to six days without electricity because all lines were down, but the damage overall was less than expected.

“;We were very lucky here,”; he told National Radio.

The kingdom of Tonga, an independent monarchy with a unicameral legislature, is made up of 169 islands with a population of about 101,000 people and a land mass of about four times the size of Washington, D.C.