Fatalities from the Tongan volcano explosion and resulting tsunami have risen to four as the government reports extensive damage to housing on islands in the archipelago | micksfoley
Fatalities from the Tongan volcano explosion and resulting tsunami has risen to four as the government reports extensive damage to housing on islands in the archipelago.
United Nations representative for Pacific Island countries Jonathon Veitch said four deaths had been reported. Three Tongan nationals and a British woman lost their lives when the tsunami swept across the island chain. Communications remain a focus of recovery efforts, with the undersea cable linking Tonga to the internet expected to take weeks to repair. Telstra and the Australian government are working to establish satellite links.Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday the Tongan expatriate community expect Australia to do “everything we can to stand with our Pacific family”.
Australia has committed an initial $1 million in funding for Tonga, with more available as the disaster response progresses.
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