image source, European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2
Caption,
Satellite images show volcanic ash over the islands of Tonga.
In the first official update since a volcanic eruption triggered a tsunami in Tonga, the island nation’s government says it is facing an “unprecedented disaster”.
In a statement, the government confirmed three deaths: two locals and one British citizen.
He added that some of the smaller outlying islands were hit particularly hard, with all houses destroyed on one and only two standing on the other.
Dozens of houses on the main island of Tongatapu, where most of the country’s 100,000 people live, were also damaged.
The government also warns that swater supplies I knowhave been “seriously affected” by volcanic ash.
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The volcano South-East People, in the South Pacific, caused an explosion on January 15 that was heard as far away as the United States, and caused waves of more than a meter that hit the coast of Tonga.
Evacuations are currently underway from the worst affected islands although relief efforts have been hampered by falling ash from the volcano.
The communications with the island chain have been interrupted following the eruption severed the only underwater cable connecting Tonga with the rest of the world.
In its update, the Tonga government said the internet was down, but some local phone services were available and work was underway to fully restore communications.
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