Jimu news reporter Li Lili
According to new Zealand media stuff on January 17, New Zealand has sent warships and air support to Tonga to bring fresh water and food.
Due to the loss of contact with the outside world, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, Tonga has not yet issued any formal requests for assistance, but many countries have expressed their willingness to support. Among them, New Zealand has sent air force Hercules transport aircraft (C-130H) to Tonga to support, and the naval warship "Mauri" (MNZS Aotearoa Maori: land of long white clouds) will also depart from Auckland tomorrow.
A senior New Zealand officer said that as he spoke, an Air Force P-3 Orion had set off to transmit the latest footage of the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa.
The senior officer confirmed that they were not communicating well with the Air Force P-3 Orion, most likely volcanic ash affecting the data connection.
At the same time, they found from satellite images that the runway of Tonga Airport was covered with a thick layer of volcanic ash, and the landing of the Hercules transport plane would also be delayed.
Hercules transport aircraft (Source: stuff)
According to the original plan, the "Hercules" transport plane should land at the airport today.
"At this stage, we have informed pilots that the runway can be opened after 4:30 p.m. tomorrow." But he also acknowledges that clearing the runway usually takes days, "and it's a real challenge." ”
At the same time, the New Zealand Navy is preparing to send a new supply ship, the OTTAROA.
"Aote yaloya" (Source: stuff)
At Dwonport Naval Base in Auckland, sailors are preparing for the $500 million new warship. The ship was originally scheduled to travel to Antarctica in 10 days on a mission.
The Otejaloa is a large supply ship. In 2020, HMS Aotearoa entered service in place of the Royal New Zealand Navy ship Endeavour, which has a reverse osmosis unit capable of supplying fresh water to shore without the need for any personnel to land.
Lord Fatafish Farkafanua, Speaker of the Tonga Parliament, said: "Communications remain interrupted and the extent of the damage is not known at this time, but what we do know is that Tonga needs fresh drinking water and food. ”
At present, the power supply in the Tonga capital has been restored, but the internet is still interrupted.
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