Tonga tsunami: Race for vital supplies to reach volcano-hit islands

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano before its main eruption on Saturday

Teams are working desperately to clear ash from Tonga's main airport runway in an effort to get vital supplies to the region following a volcanic eruption.

Some 200 people with wheelbarrows and shovels are sweeping the site so flights can deliver food and drinking water to the Pacific islands.

New Zealand and Australia have also sent ships in response to Saturday's eruption, which triggered a tsunami.

Three deaths have been reported - two nationals and a woman from Britain.

The Tongan government described the eruption, which sent plumes of gas, smoke and debris from the volcano up to 20km (12.5 miles) into the sky, as an "unprecedented disaster".

A satellite image shows the main runway of the Fua'amotu International Airport partially blocked due to volcanic ash

On Wednesday morning in Tonga, a UN representative for the region said that while clearing the ash on the main island of Tongatapu had proven more difficult than expected, good progress had been made and it was hoped that flights might soon resume.

"We thought that it would be operational [Tuesday], but it hasn't been fully cleared yet because more ash has been falling," Jonathan Veitch told reporters.

Mr Veitch praised the quick response of New Zealand and Australia in working to dispatch aid via navy ships, which he said had the ability to desalinate sea water and provide fresh supplies for the local population.

He said the vessels were carrying "a lot of our water and sanitation supplies" and described a "very challenging" situation on the islands.

New Zealand's Defence Minister Peeni Henare told the BBC the country had recently sent two naval ships that were due to arrive in Tonga in the coming days.

"It takes approximately three to four days to sail up to Tonga, and they'll have large provisions of water, food and medical supplies," he said.

Communications with the island chain has been majorly disrupted after the single underwater cable connecting Tonga to the rest of the world was severed in the eruption on Saturday.

Many Tongans abroad have since been waiting to hear news from loved ones.

Tonga's deadly tsunami

• VISUAL GUIDE: How volcano's impact spread so widely

• ANALYSIS: Scientists explain explosion's ferocity

• VIDEO: Giant eruption captured by satellites

• VOICES: Daughter fears for parents after Tonga tsunami

• HEALTH: Warnings over danger of volcanic ash

The Tongan government said on Tuesday that the internet was down, but that some local phone services were available and work was under way to restore full communications.

The statement also said:

• A 65-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man and British woman Angela Glover were killed in the tsunami. A number of injuries have also been reported

• Dozens of houses on the main island of Tongatapu were also damaged

• Evacuations from the worst-hit islands are under way

• Water supplies have been "seriously affected" by the volcanic ash

• Flights have been temporarily halted and sea transport routes are disrupted

Meanwhile, the UN said it would try to maintain Tonga's Covid-free status when aid starts arriving.

Tongan officials have expressed concern that deliveries could spread Covid, with the country only recording its first case in October.

The UN said it was unclear if personnel could be sent to assist, but that supplies like water and food could be delivered as the main island's port remained viable.

There have been reports of food supplies at shops running low and deliveries have been deemed a priority.

Saturday's volcanic eruption was felt as far away as the US. In Peru, two people drowned in abnormally high waves while beaches near the capital Lima were closed off following an oil spill.