Two New Zealand navy vessels will arrive in Tonga on Friday, carrying much-needed water and other supplies for the Pacific island nation reeling from a volcanic eruption and tsunami, and largely cut off from the outside world.
Hundreds of homes in Tonga’s smaller outer islands have been destroyed, and at least three people were killed after Saturday’s huge eruption triggered tsunami waves, which rolled over the islands causing what the government has called an unprecedented disaster.
With its airport smothered under a layer of volcanic ash and communications badly hampered by the severing of an undersea cable, information on the scale of the devastation has mostly come from reconnaissance aircraft.
“For the people of Tonga, we’re heading their way now with a whole lot of water,” Simon Griffiths, captain of the HMNZS Aotearoa, said in a release.
Griffiths said his ship was carrying 250,000 litres of water, and had the capacity to produce another 70,000 litres a day, along with other supplies.
Source: France24
In other news – Actress Gugu Gumede shows off baby bump
Congratulations are in order as Gugu Gumede took to her social media to debut her baby bump. The star who made headlines recently after it was reported that she’s leaving popular SABC soapie, Uzalo.
She mentioned on the show that she wanted to get some rest and take care of some issues back at home. Many of her fans felt really bad following her news but they are excited knowing that she took the break because she is expecting. Learn more
