Wellington, Jan 17, (dpa/GNA) – Both New Zealand and Australia’s defense forces are on the way to Tonga, in the South Pacific, following a massive underwater volcanic eruption.
Communication links with Tonga were still down on Monday following the eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano on Saturday.
The eruption triggered atmospheric shockwaves and a tsunami which traveled as far afield as Alaska, Japan and South America.
A New Zealand Defence Force plane left Auckland on Monday to carry out a reconnaissance flight over Tonga, including over the outer islands that had not yet been heard from. There are about 170 islands in all of Tonga, 36 of those are inhabited.
Meanwhile, a plane from Australia’s Defence Force is hoping to survey critical infrastructure such as roads, ports and power lines in Tonga, if conditions permit.
New Zealand hoped to send another plane to deliver immediate provisions to Tonga later on Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a media conference.
A Hercules plane would be able to land in Tonga if the runway in Nuku’alofa was undamaged, but it could also air drop supplies, Ardern said.
“The flights undertaken today will help us establish what needs there might be…we know water is an immediate need and the Hercules will, we hope, be able to take off today to meet that need.”
New Zealand was also preparing a ship to take more equipment to the islands, Ardern said.
“Tonga residents could be exposed to unsafe air and water due to ash and smoke from the eruption, Save The Children,” Fiji said.
Chief executive Sairana Ali said the public had been asked to wear masks and use bottled water.
“The booms from the eruption of the Tonga volcano could be clearly heard in Fiji. Our thoughts have been for the safety of our Tongan brothers and sisters,” Ali said in a statement.
“The people of Pacific Island nations are sadly becoming used to facing disasters. They are incredibly resilient communities.”
The ash cloud from the eruption had now reached Queensland, Australia, Weather Watch New Zealand said.
“Covering a large portion of the state, the ash cloud is tracking from east to west and will cover much of the state for Monday,” the forecaster said.
New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga Peter Lund posted on Facebook, that the internet was down in Tonga after the undersea cable broke.
Lund, who is based in Nuku’alofa, said satellite connectivity was only available from the High Commission, and mobile phones were working locally but not internationally.
“It’s been an awful time, but Nuku’alofa is still standing, electricity has been restored to many homes,” he said.
“The big clean up will be getting underway this week. Volcanic ash has blanketed Nuku’alofa,” Lund said.
Ardern said there were no confirmed injuries or casualties from the eruption, but she warned communication was “very limited” with Tonga.
GNA