Aircraft carrying much-needed humanitarian supplies from regional countries begin arriving in tsunami-hit Tonga, as airport reopens and phone contact with the Pacific island is established after five days
First flight carrying aid to Tonga was able to make it to the Pacific nation's main airport after the runway was cleared of volcanic ash.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister said its air force has also sent a C-130 Hercules from Auckland, which landed in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa. Japan said on Thursday it would send aid including drinking water and equipment for cleaning volcanic ash through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.The explosion of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, which has killed at least three people, sent tsunami waves across the Pacific on Saturday, badly damaging villages, resorts and many buildings in Tonga and knocked out communications for the nation of about 105,000 people.
"Each home has their own tanks of water supply but most of them are filled with dust so it's not safe for drinking," Kupu said."I won't say we are expecting more deaths but as we are speaking the government is trying to fly to the other islands to check over them."
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