Tonga has scrambled to clear a thick blanket of volcanic ash.
Sydney:
The first humanitarian flights left for Tonga early Thursday, delivering much-needed aid supplies to the volcano and tsunami-ravaged Pacific island nation.
An Australian defense official told AFP: “A C17 Globemaster departed Amberley Airport base at around 7 am (2000 GMT) this morning.” A second Australian aid flight is scheduled to depart later on Thursday.
After several days of delay, New Zealand confirmed that its C-130 Hercules was also en route.
The flights will carry humanitarian supplies and telecommunications equipment.
News from Tonga has been severely limited since the weekend’s disaster, which damaged underwater communication cables.
On the ground, Tongans scramble to clear a thick blanket of volcanic ash from the runway of Fuamotu International Airport.
The Australian military relief ship HMAS Adelaide also stands in Brisbane.
The Australian official said it is Canberra’s “hope and intent” that the ship will leave for the island kingdom on Friday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday that the ship would carry “water purification equipment and additional humanitarian supplies”.
Two Chinook heavy-lift helicopters have also been loaded onto the ship ahead of the scheduled departure of the ship.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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