New Zealand: Tonga's volcano could continue to erupt in the coming days or weeks, threatening aid efforts

The Paper's reporter Nan Boyi

At 17:14 local time on January 14, the volcano erupted. Taaniela Kula_ TGS diagram

On January 18, local time, the New Zealand government said that the recent undersea volcanic eruption has brought "unprecedented disasters" to the South Pacific island nation of Tonga. New Zealand also warned that further eruptions could make it difficult for Tonga, which is currently out of service to the outside world.

According to CNN reported on January 19, the New Zealand Foreign Ministry said on the 18th that there may be another volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga. Citing a study by the country's Institute of Geology and Nuclear Science (GNS Science), New Zealand's Foreign Ministry said: "The most likely scenario at the moment is for a sustained eruption of a volcano in Tonga in the coming days to weeks, or a continued tsunami risk for Tonga and New Zealand." ”

According to Xinhua News Agency on January 19, Uncom official Jonathan Vecchi said at a press conference in Fiji that in order to prevent the spread of the new crown epidemic to Tonga, the outside assistance operation to the country will be carried out "remotely" and aid workers may not land on the island of Tonga. Vecchi revealed that there is currently no new crown epidemic in Tonga, and the United Nations will send aircraft to deliver supplies, "We are not sure if we can send a plane carrying (assistance) personnel, because Tonga's epidemic prevention policy is very strict." ”

On January 18, local time, the Prime Minister's Office of Tonga issued a statement saying that the volcanic eruption of Hong Aha Apai Island and the tsunami caused to the country brought "unprecedented disasters", confirming that 2 Tongans and 1 British woman had been killed in the tsunami. The statement also said there was a tsunami of "up to 15 meters" and hit some islands, such as The low-lying island of Mangao, where all homes were destroyed. New Zealand Foreign Minister Mahuta said on the 19th that Tonga has begun to evacuate the badly affected islands, including the Haapai Archipelago, since the morning of the same day, and about 150 residents have been evacuated. New Zealand's Foreign Ministry said later the same day that Tonga had now restored power supply and that the new government was assessing the damage caused to Tonga by the eruption and tsunami.

On January 14 and 15, local time, a volcanic eruption occurred on the island of Aha Apai in Tongahun, and the capital Nuku'alofa detected a tsunami. Meanwhile, internet service in Tonga will take weeks to recover due to damage to submarine cables. CCTV News reported on January 19 that Shally Jannif, CEO of DIGICEL, a mobile telecommunications service provider in Tonga, said on the same day that the company's international call service in Tonga had been restored. On the afternoon of January 20, local time, a transport plane of the New Zealand Air Force took off from the Auckland base and went to Tonga to provide the first batch of relief materials after the disaster, and the aircraft carried tents and medical supplies. At present, the aircraft has arrived in Tonga.

Responsible editor: Zhu Runyu Photo editor: Zhang Tongze

Proofreader: Shi Gong