Scale of devastation in tsunami-hit Tonga begins to be revealed

dpa Wellington At least three people have died following a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga, the government said on Tuesday, with the fate of...

dpaWellingtonAt least three people have died following a massive volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga, the government said on Tuesday, with the fate of small outlying islands the focus of particular concern.It was the first official update from Tongan authorities since Saturday’s underwater eruption near the South Pacific island chain, which has caused massive communication challenges. The eruption triggered atmospheric shockwaves and a tsunami which travelled as far afield as Alaska, Japan and South America.A press release from Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni’s office said three people had died, including two Tongans and a British national.A number of injuries had also been reported in the “unprecedented disaster,” the statement said. The eruption had sent a “volcanic mushroom plume” covering all of Tonga’s islands and had generated tsunami waves of up to 15 metres, it said.Tonga’s navy had been to some outlying islands to deliver critical supplies, including Mango island, home to 36 people, where an active distress beacon was detected.Every house had been destroyed on Mango island, and only two houses remained on Fonoifua island, the navy reported.It was evacuating people from the two islands, as well as the island of ‘Atata, but sea and air transport was challenging due to damage sustained to wharves and the ashfall, the government said.Communication links were still down, with authorities working on satellite options to restore some services, including internet.No contact had been made with the northernmost Niuas chain yet, although the islands were considered low risk due to their relative distance from the volcano.“Even though the tsunami warning has been cancelled and volcanic activity has significantly decreased, monitoring efforts continue,” the statement said.Ships laden with critical supplies left New Zealand for Tonga on Tuesday, while Australian authorities are also preparing to depart.A formal request for help from Tonga is yet to come, but Wellington announced it would move ahead with sending aid via the ships, which will take three days to reach the archipelago.Surveying equipment and dive teams as well as a helicopter would travel on one ship, while bulk water supplies and humanitarian and disaster relief stores would be taken on the other, Defence Minister Peeni Henare said.“Water is among the highest priorities for Tonga at this stage and HMNZS Aotearoa can carry 250,000 litres, and produce 70,000 litres per day through a desalination plant,” Henare said. “The survey and diving teams are able to show changes to the seabed in the shipping channels and ports. They will also assess wharf infrastructure to assure the future delivery of aid and support from the sea.”