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ADF to Assess Damage and Provide Aid in Tonga

by | Mon, Jan 17 2022

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The Australian Defence Force will head to Tonga this morning, to assess the damage from a massive volcanic eruption which triggered tsunami waves on the island nation.

An Australian Defence Force aircraft will inspect critical infrastructure – including roads, ports, and power supply – to determine what assistance is needed.

New Zealand is also sending a response team.

An ash cloud covering Tonga has prevented surveillance flights from assessing the true scale of the damage, and is also causing aid flights to be delayed.

The Australian Government is working to confirm the safety of Aussies on the ground, however, the lack of telecommunications and internet is making that difficult.

Parts of Tonga are being described as looking like a “moonscape” coated in a layer of volcanic ash.

Aid groups say dust is contaminating water supply, and locals have been told to drink bottled water and wear face masks.

The extent of damage from the volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami is not entirely clear at this stage.

Associate Professor of Volcanology Heather Hanley says the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption was historic in size.

“They’ve not provided complete estimates of how high into the atmosphere this eruption has happened,” said Ms Hanley, “but they know from the direction that things have been blown, that it’s reached the stratosphere – so definitely at the height that our aeroplanes fly at.”

Australia’s tsunami threat has passed, after warnings were issued for marine areas stretching from Queensland to Tasmania.

No large waves are expected to hit the east coast, but unusual changing tides are forecast to persist for some time.

A hazardous surf warning remains in place for Queensland and New South Wales, but it is unrelated to the tsunami.

Tsunami waves travelled as far as Chile and California – where the Santa Cruz Harbor was flooded and boats were capsized.

 

Photo credit: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade via Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/10661761983