New Zealand confirms second tsunami death toll in Tonga

New Zealand authorities have confirmed the second death caused by the eruption of the Hanga Tonga-Hunga Ha’bai volcano in Tonga last Friday, while international organizations and NGOs are mobilizing humanitarian aid to help the affected areas.

New Zealand Defense Minister Beanie Henarey has confirmed the deaths of two men, identified as Tongan citizen and British citizen Angela Clover., The first victim to be swept away by a tsunami and die while trying to rescue his dogs at a charity he runs, according to media ‘New Zealand Herald’.

On the other hand, the United Nations office in Fiji said on Tuesday There are still unrelated areas. Athlete Pita Taufatofua, ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), visited an emergency warehouse in Tonga on Tuesday.

“We are ready to provide humanitarian assistance to the government of Tonga and its people affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunami.” UNICEF Representative in the Pacific Jonathan Weach said Monday that the government is working with civil society and other voluntary organizations to provide water and sanitation supplies on land.

In particular, UNICEF has prepared essential water, sanitation and hygiene equipment, water containers and buckets, tarpaulins, tents and other survival utensils, the organization said on its social media network.

According to a United Nations report, According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, local telephone connections have been repaired, although recovery of international telephone and internet services has been difficult since submarine cables were destroyed by the explosion.

“I have worked in many emergencies, but it has been very difficult to communicate and try to get information from there. We trust satellite phones 100 percent.”, According to local media reports.

In addition, after surveillance by helicopters over these areas, the UN, according to two smaller low-lying islands, Mango and Phonoi, may have caused damage to the infrastructure.

“Now, we have no one in Tonga,” said Stephen Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, who told a news conference that the World Food Program was trying to send humanitarian aid.

Appraisal flights

Meanwhile, officials in New Zealand and Australia have announced that they will send several aircraft from their respective air forces to monitor and monitor the damage caused by the tsunami after the submarine erupted.

As of Tuesday afternoon (local time), New Zealand officials had confirmed that two New Zealand naval vessels would be sent to Tonga to provide support with fresh water, emergency supplies and diving equipment.

“HMS Adelaide ‘flew to Brisbane to provide further response if requested. The Australian Security Forces continue to support the Tongan government by conducting surveillance flights today to help determine the next stage of the response effort.”, Posted on Twitter by the official profile of the Australian Headquarters Joint Action Command.

Large parts of the archipelago that makes up Tonga have been isolated due to the damage caused by the eruption and tsunami, which caused warnings over the weekend from Japan to Chile and Alaska to Australia. So far, two people have died after bathing in Peru due to waves and material damage in New Zealand.

(With information from the European Press)

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