First images after massive eruption, tsunami show Tonga covered in ash

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Thick layer of volcanic ash covers Tonga's islands as the first images emerged from the Pacific island nation since it was hit by a massive undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Aerial and satellite photos revealed the scale of the damage from the weekend's eruption, which sparked fears of widespread disaster.

Photos showed trees, buildings, green spaces and roads on the normally lush islands now covered by a sea of dark ash, as well as water from giant waves that washed onto land after the eruption. Tongan officials were hoping to evacuate people from the isolated, low-lying Ha’apai islands group and other outer islands where conditions were “very tough, we understand, with many houses being destroyed in the tsunami,” Australia’s Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said, according to Reuters.

In addition, the waterfront in the capital city of Nuku’alofa’s was seriously damaged with rocks and debris pushed inland by the tsunami, according to a report published by the U.N.’s humanitarian affairs agency. The two countries have sent ships loaded with water and relief supplies to the archipelago made up of 171 islands, which has a population of nearly 106,000.

 

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