Tonga: First air plane arrives with essential supplies

The first foreign aid planes began arriving in Tonga, sending much-needed supplies to the Pacific nation, devastated by a volcanic eruption or subsequent tsunami on Saturday. New Zealand said its military plane landed at Tonga's main airport after workers cleared ash from the tarmac.

Australia has also confirmed that the first rescue planes have arrived. Initially, relief efforts were hampered by volcanic ash. At least three people have died, communications have crashed, and Tonga is just beginning to reconnect with global contacts, five days away from the rest of the world.

The New Zealand Defense Forces confirmed that a C-130 Hercules landed in Tonga just after 16:00 local time (03:00 GMT). It was stocked with water tanks, emergency shelter kits, power generators, cleaning and family equipment, and communications equipment.

Hours later, Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton tweeted that the first aircraft delivered by the Australian Armed Forces had landed with "humanitarian aid and supplies."

Australia said the first of two Boeing C-17 Globemaster rescue planes also had a sweeper onboard to help keep the runway clear. Rescue teams and hundreds of volunteers worked desperately for days to clear a thick layer of ash on the runway of the capital's Nuku'alofa airport that blocked the plane's landing.

The volunteers used carts and shovels, which New Zealand Allied commander Rear Admiral Jim Gilmore described as a "huge undertaking."

"After the outbreak, the whole of Tonga was gray," Tongan journalist Marian Kupu told the in the capital, Nuku Alofa. "We're talking dogs, cars, and buildings, all covered in ashes."

Kupu said the thick ash made clearing the trail "difficult" and potentially threatened the health of those involved in the task, who were "mostly boys." Both Australian and New Zealand authorities have confirmed that the disruption will be contactless to prevent the risk of spreading Covid to the island, which has only had one case of the pandemic virus.

Counter-Admin Gilmore said Covid's contactless protocols were "strictly adhered to," adding that relief efforts would include ensuring the flight crew did not come into contact with anyone on the ground and that everyone would wear personal protective equipment (PPE)...

"We have great respect that the last thing Tonga needs right now is an outbreak of Covid at the height of this catastrophe," he added. Australia also said no employees would be disembarking their planes.