Worcester Warriors star Sione Vailanu has not heard from family or friends after the tsunami in Tonga.
The island is facing issues with communication after an underwater cable was severed during the tsunami which followed a volcano.
Vailanu, a Tonga international, has family in the area that was hit by the tsunami but believes they managed to make it to safety on higher ground.
He said: "The damage was from the volcano and the tsunami. All of Tonga was affected. Three people have passed away and lots of others are still missing.
"I have a lot of family and friends there but I haven’t been able to hear from them because of the damage to all the communication systems.
"Hopefully they are in a good place now and I can contact them soon."
The Tonga rugby star has started fundraising to help people affected by the tsunami.
He said: "Myself and one of my best friends, Wasps centre Malakai Fekitoa, are doing some fundraising for us to help so he can organize a few containers of suppliers from New Zealand to Tonga."
The New Zealand military is attempting to aid Tonga after the tsunami, but thick ash on runways is making it difficult to send drinking water and other supplies to the island.
New Zealand’s Acting High Commissioner for Tonga, Peter Lund, has said the scale of the damage is not yet known and there is “quite a lot of damage on the Nuku’alofa waterfront”.
One of the casualties who has passed away has been named as Angela Glover, a charity worker from Brighton, who died attempting to save her dogs.
To donate to Sione Vailanu's fundraiser, visit here
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