Flights sent to assess Tonga damage after volcanic eruption

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By NICK PERRY

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand and Australia were able to send military surveillance flights to Tonga on Monday to assess the damage a huge undersea volcanic eruption left in the Pacific island nation.

A towering ash cloud since Saturday’s eruption had prevented earlier flights. New Zealand hopes to send essential supplies, including much-needed drinking water, on a military transport plane Tuesday.

U.N. humanitarian officials and Tonga’s government “report significant infrastructural damage around Tongatapu,” the main island in the archipelago, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

“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 said.



In this photo provided by the New Zealand Defense Force, an Orion aircraft is prepared at a base in Auckland, New Zealand, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, before flying to assist the Tonga government after the eruption of an undersea volcano. (NZDF via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/environment-and-nature-new-zealand-tsunamis-volcanic-eruptions-tonga-c2ffa1bb2ab6a2a3c7b85a875c96a9c7

[burrowowl]

1. Hope assessment and aid can arrive soon

[Hekate]

2. Thanks for the update, Steve

[yaesu]

3. According to the Tonga government, 36 people live on Mango and 69 on Fonoi

Also, Fonoi and Mango’s District Officer reported on the 15th that their main drinking water has been contaminated by ash, The government is planning a response with the provision of clean drinking water so there must be communications between the islands at least.

[C Moon]

4. Wow. That's messed up.

[Slammer]

6. Innocent inquiry

How would one go about setting up a fact-finding mission of maskless Republican Senators and Representatives?

[Sgent]

7. Not good

according to the New Zealand press, the main airport in the capital city is buried in ash and they cannot land a C130 with supplies and communications equipment. Sat phones are crap because of airborne ash. They started up multiple new naval vessels headed that way, but it takes days, and the Chief of Mission is worried they will transmit Covid (which I guess has some validity, but I'd worry more about water).