Fears of humanitarian crisis in Tonga grow as runway ash blocks New Zealand air relief

There are fears of a possible humanitarian crisis developing in Tonga after a massive underground volcano erupted, triggering a tsunami.

New Zealand is delivering aid to the stricken island group, but ash on the capital Nuku’alofa’s main airport runway is stopping relief planes from landing.

It will also take days before military ships with supplies will reach the cluster of 170 Polynesian islands, New Zealand authorities said.

Saturday’s massive volcano eruption sparked a tsunami and severed an undersea cable, cutting off the country’s communication from the outside world.

New Zealand and Australia have conducted surveillance flights to assess the damage.

At least one person, British animal charity worker Angela Glover, is confirmed to be dead. The number of those injured is still unknown.

On Tuesday New Zealand foreign affairs minister Nanaia Mahuta said “water is among the highest priorities for Tonga at this stage”.

Aid agencies predict volcanic dust and the subsequent tsunami have contaminated Tonga’s water supplies.

She said a C-130 Hercules aircraft was on standby to fly to Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa to deliver humanitarian aid including collapsible water containers, generators and hygiene kits.

“However images show ashfall on the Nuku’alofa airport runway that must be cleared before (the plane) can land,” she said.

On Monday about 200 Tongans had started sweeping the runway, successfully clearing a 100m (330ft) stretch of tarmac, but there remained “a long way to go”, according to TVNZ reporter Barbara Dreaver.

Ms Mahuta also said two navy ships carrying water supplies, disaster relief stores, and a rescue helicopter will be dispatched to Tonga. However the ships are expected to take three days to arrive.

New Zealand’s Acting High Commissioner to Tonga, Peter Lund, said the local government had declared a state of emergency and that the extent of the destruction was starting to come to light.

“[There is] damage to buildings, there’s a lot of rubble and rocks that have been thrown up but people are now trying to get back to normal in the capital,” he told 1News, adding that clean-up efforts were under way to get rid of the “thick film of ash” blanketing the area.

Mr Lund also said three deaths have been reported, but that these were unconfirmed. It is also unclear whether the number includes the confirmed death of 50-year-old British national Angela Glover, who died as she was washed away while trying to save her dogs.

Register now for one of the Evening Standard’s newsletters. From a daily news briefing to Homes & Property insights, plus lifestyle, going out, offers and more. For the best stories in your inbox, click here.