The United Nations reported on Tuesday that a big volcanic eruption and tsunami have caused considerable damage to the small outlying Tonga islands. Lost communications and a layer of ash impeding rescue attempts.
The death toll stands at two, as confirmed by Tonga police, according to the New Zealand High Commission. But with connectivity in the South Pacific island nation down, the actual amount of casualties remains unknown.
The main airport in Tonga, Fua’amotu International Airport, did not receive damages from the eruption and tsunami on Saturday. But thick ashfall has hampered international rescue efforts.
“The priority now will to be get supplies to Tonga, and the biggest constraint on that at the moment … is the airport. There is still a significant amount of ash,” Australia’s Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said.
Tongan officials planned to evacuate residents from the outer islands. There, the conditions were “very tough, we understand with many houses being devastated in the tsunami”, Seselja said.
Tonga islands: Catastrophic damage
A distress signal was detected in an isolated, low-lying Ha’apai islands group, according to the UN. It expressed particular concern for Fonoi and Mango islands. The Tonga government also estimates that 36 people live on Mango and 69 on Fonoi.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Tongan navy reported serious damage in the Ha’apai islands. Waves slammed them that likewise had estimated to be 5-10 meters (15-30 feet) high.
New Zealand defense force captured surveillance photographs and shared them on social media in Tonga. It revealed: “catastrophic damage” to the outlying island of Atata.
The islands of Fonoifua, Niniva, Nomuka, and Mango all suffered substantial to catastrophic damage. An entire village on Mango being a victim of destruction.
Tonga is a kingdom with a population of 104,494 people, 176 islands, 36 inhabited islands in them.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano is located 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of Tonga’s capital. It is in the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
The eruption sent Tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard 2,300 kilometers (1,430 miles) away in New Zealand.
The South Pacific archipelago has remained largely cut off from the world since the eruption. It cut its main undersea communications cable.
The islands are full of ash, according to the New Zealand High Commission. It added that it was working “as a matter of priority” to establish links with smaller islands.
First victim of Tonga islands catastrophe
Angela Glover, 50, a British national, died in the tsunami. It was while attempting to save the dogs she cared for at a rescue shelter, according to her brother. Thereby, making her the first known victim in the tragedy.
“We don’t have any further information that would suggest … significant casualties,” Seselja told the Australian broadcaster Nine’s Today show.
He predicted that the airport would be open by Wednesday.
“A tsunami of COVID-19”
Curtis Tu’ihalangingie, Tonga’s deputy head of mission in Australia, expressed fear. The assistance deliveries could spread COVID-19 to the COVID-free country.
“We don’t want to bring in another wave – a tsunami of COVID-19,” Tu’ihalangingie said over the phone to Reuters. Thereby, imploring the public to donate to a disaster relief fund.
Any supplies transported to Tonga islands would have to be in quarantine. Foreign people would almost certainly not unload planes, he warned.
Pacific’s worst volcanic eruption
The Red Cross said it was mobilizing its network to respond to what it described as the Pacific’s worst volcanic eruption in decades.
The Red Cross’ Asia Pacific head, Alexander Matheou, stated that water purification to reduce ash contamination, housing, and reconnecting families were the top priority.
OCHA stated that “Further volcanic activity cannot be ruled out.”
The massive explosion also had an influence as far away as the United States. Two individuals drowned on a Peru beach as a result of the tsunami’s powerful waves, while officials in Japan reported multiple evacuations.
According to satellite photographs taken approximately 12 hours after the blow, the island of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai has all but vanished, making it difficult for volcanologists to monitor activity.
The volcano, which last erupted in 2014, had been puffing away for approximately a month before the explosion on Saturday, according to experts.