- Three days after the massive eruption of the submarine volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai in the Pacific, the extent of the damage and the number of possible victims are still unclear.
- Meanwhile, there are first satellite images of the capital Nuku’alofa. These show how entire streets and houses are covered by a layer of ash.
- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said there was no contact specifically with the Ha’apai archipelago.
After the underwater volcano erupted in the South Seas, there are first reports of significant damage on the main island of Tongatapu, on which the capital Nuku’alofa is also located. This is reported by the UN emergency aid coordination.
After the tsunami triggered by the volcano, there are particular concerns about the low-lying islands of Mango and Fonoi, the UN agency said. The New Zealand Air Force found significant property damage on the two islands during their reconnaissance flights. An emergency signal was also received from Mango.
Communication largely cut off
“Communication is still the biggest problem, as the Internet and international telephone lines are still out of order,” the UN agency said. Satellite phones are the only reliable means of communicating with the outside world, but they don’t always work reliably either.
A thick layer of ash on an airport runway is delaying aid deliveries for the Pacific island nation of Tonga, said the New Zealand military, which among other things wants to bring urgently needed drinking water to the people.
New Zealand wanted to send two ships with relief supplies to Tonga on Tuesday. A formal request for assistance from Tonga is still pending, but the New Zealand government wants to dispatch the ships HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa as they took three days to reach the affected region, it said.
Water delivery as top priority
“The communication problems caused by the outbreak make this disaster relief particularly challenging,” said New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. One of the ships is primarily intended to transport urgently needed drinking water.
“Water is a top priority for Tonga at this stage and HMNZS Aotearoa can transport 250,000 liters and produce 70,000 liters per day through a desalination plant,” Defense Minister Peeni Henare said.
On Saturday, the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai threw a gigantic cloud of ash kilometers high and triggered tsunami waves that even swept onto the coasts of Japan, Alaska and South America.
The volcano is just 40 miles from Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa. The Feuerberg lying under the water surface is 1800 meters high and 20 kilometers wide. The archipelago of Tonga has around 107,000 inhabitants.