Tonga: First foreign aid plane from New Zealand arrives

The first foreign aid plane has arrived in Tonga, carrying much-needed water and supplies for the Pacific nation.

New Zealand said its military plane landed at Tonga’s main airport after workers cleared ash from the runway.

Other planes and ships sent by New Zealand and Australia are on the way.

Saturday’s eruption of an undersea volcano and tsunami wave saw volcanic ash blanketing the islands, posing a serious health risk. The ash and sea water have contaminated water supplies.

At least three people have died and communications have been crippled, and Tonga has only just begun to re-establish global contact after five days cut off from the rest of the world.

A thick layer of ash had covered the airport runway in the capital Nuku’alofa, preventing planes from landing.

For days rescue teams and hundreds of volunteers desperately worked to clear the tarmac using wheelbarrows and shovels, in what New Zealand’s commander of joint forces Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour called a “mammoth effort”.

He told reporters on Thursday that their C-130 Hercules plane touched down in Tonga just after 16:00 local time (03:00 GMT). It was loaded with water containers, temporary shelter kits, electricity generators, hygiene and family kits and communications equipment.

Australia said the first of its two Boeing C-17 Globemaster planes arriving on Thursday that were carrying supplies also had a “sweeping” device on board to help keep the runway clear.

Equipment to repair and boost telecommunications as well as basic water, medicine and hygiene supplies have been prioritised in the first foreign aid loads.

BBC