First aid arrived in Tongan when Reuters finally recovered its telephone lines

Praveen Menon, Kirsty Needham and Michelle Nichols

(Reuters) – The first plane carrying humanitarian supplies arrived in Tonga on Thursday, five days after a volcanic eruption and tsunami devastated most of the South Pacific island nation’s communities and destroyed drinking water.

A C-130 Hercules from the Royal New Zealand Air Force landed at Fua’amotu International Airport in Tonga, a defense spokesman said after a blanket of volcanic ash came off the runway.

An Australian Globemaster military transport aircraft also landed.

“Today’s C-17A flight was made possible by the tireless efforts of Tongan authorities to remove a thick layer of volcanic ash from the runway,” said Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton in a statement.

Dutton said the plane was full of water desalination equipment, shelter, kitchens and supplies to help remove ash from the airport. A second Australian plane was due to fly on Thursday.

The New Zealand plane was carrying humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies, including temporary shelter kits, generators, hygiene and family kits and communications equipment, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement.

The delivery of supplies brought by the two planes was contactless to ensure that Tonga remained free of the coronavirus.

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai https://tmsnrt.rs/3qCTwKY A volcanic eruption erupted on Saturday and sent tsunami waves across the archipelago, killing at least three people and destroying and hitting many towns, resorts and buildings. National communications for about 105,000 people.

Australian High Commissioner for Tonga Rachael Moore said the loss of property was a “disaster”.

“There is a lunar landscape along the western beaches at one time with beautiful resorts and lots and lots of houses,” Moore told Australian radio, adding that drinking water was a “very high priority”.

Telephone connections between Tonga and the outside world were reconnected on Wednesday night, although the restoration of full internet services would take a month or more, according to the owner of the archipelago’s only submarine communications cable.

Journalist Marian Kupu told Reuters in the capital Nuku’alofa that the Tongans were clearing all the dust from the volcanic eruption, but feared they would run out of drinking water.

“Each house has its own water supply tanks, but most of them are full of dust, so it’s not safe to drink,” Kupuk said.

‘USE MASKS’

The first of two New Zealand Army ships also arrived on Thursday, its High Commission said. It will check shipping routes and wharf approaches at the port of Tonga to prepare for the arrival of the second vessel, which will include 250,000 liters of water and desalination equipment, which will be able to produce 70,000 liters on Friday.

An Australian ship will depart on Friday.

Tongans abroad called on their families to make sure they were safe.

“It was very reassuring to report them,” said Fatafehi ​​Fakafanua, Tonga’s parliamentary speaker, who was in New Zealand at the time of the disaster after contacting his family.

“They’re fine. The government has recommended that they drink bottled water, cover it when they’re outside, and wear masks for ashes.”

The United Nations says about 84,000 people – more than 80 percent of the population – have been hit hard by the disaster, making water safe “the biggest problem in saving lives.”

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted about 40 miles (65 km) from the capital Tonga in a blast heard 2,300 km (1,400 miles) away in New Zealand.

Waves of up to 15 meters (49 feet) have hit the outskirts of Ha’apai Island, destroying all the houses on Mango Island, as well as the west coast of the main island of Tonga, Tongatapu, where 56 houses have been destroyed or severely damaged. .

Accounts of miraculous escapes are emerging, including the acclaimed 57-year-old “real Aquaman,” who was told he had to swim in the sea for about 27 hours after the tsunami.