‘Alarming’ Damage Reported As International Aid Efforts Are Hampered By Volcanic Ash

Topline

Reconnaissance images revealed extensive damages suffered by Tonga’s outer islands from Saturday’s massive undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami, raising fears of unreported deaths and injuries as the presence of volcanic ash on an airport runway delayed international aid to the Pacific island nation.

Key Facts

Images taken by the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) reconnaissance aircraft showed an entire village destroyed on Tonga’s Mango island and numerous buildings missing on the nearby Atata island.

Calling the images “alarming”, Tongan diplomat in Australia Curtis Tu’ihalangingie told Reuters that the death toll from last week’s disaster may rise further.

New Zealand’s High Commission in Tonga said local police have so far confirmed two deaths from the tsunami—one of whom was a British national—but the true casualty count remains unclear as the island’s communications largely remained cut off from the rest of the world.

The New Zealand military has been attempting to send in drinking water and other critical supplies to the small island nation but deposits of volcanic ash on the airport runway delayed such an effort.

According to the Tongan Navy, the low lying Ha’apai group of islands were hit by tsunami waves estimated to be 5-10 meters high.

Crucial Quote

United Nations humanitarian officials also reported significant infrastructural damages across the island, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. “There has been no contact from the Ha’apai Group of islands, and we are particularly concerned about two small low-lying islands — Mango and Fonoi — following surveillance flights confirming substantial property damage,” Dujarric told the Associated Press. The U.N. had earlier reported detecting a distress signal from Ha’apai.

Key Background

Satellite and aerial surveillance images of Tonga taken on Monday showed the country’s vibrant green landscape transformed by the volcanic ash into a brownish gray moonscape. Details from the island continue to remain scarce as the single undersea cable connecting the island to the rest of the world is believed to have been severed by the disaster. According to experts, Saturday’s volcanic eruption may be the largest one witnessed so far in the 21st century. The sonic boom caused by the volcano could be heard 6,000 miles away in Anchorage, Alaska and the shockwave caused by the eruption was detected in Colorado.

Further Reading

Tongan Volcano: Nation Cut Off From Rest Of The World As First Deaths Reported 6,000 Miles Away (Forbes)

Tsunami-hit Tonga islands suffered extensive damage, fears death toll to rise (Reuters)