Following the Large Volcanic Explosion, a First Aid Flight Leaves to Tonga

After the Pacific nation’s major airport runway was cleansed of ash left by a massive volcanic eruption, the first flight delivering fresh water and other supplies to Tonga was finally allowed to take off on Thursday.

According to Nanaia Mahuta, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, a C-130 Hercules military cargo jet left New Zealand carrying water containers, temporary shelter kits, generators, hygiene supplies, and communications equipment. Australia was also planning to deploy two C-17 Globemaster cargo planes loaded with humanitarian aid. These aircraft were scheduled to land in Tonga on Thursday afternoon.

Tonga is keen to ensure that outsiders do not carry the corona virus into the country, thus the delivery will go place without any interaction. It has had no Covid-19 outbreaks and has recorded only one case since the epidemic began. The New Zealand Defense Minister Peeni Henare says the flight can be scheduled to remain on the ground around 90 minutes before its return to New Zealand.

The volcanic eruption in Tonga exposed flaws in our worldwide communications infrastructure. According to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the volcano’s eruption has affected around 84,000 people, more than 80% of Tonga’s population, with three fatalities, injuries, housing loss, and contaminated water.