A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has struck Tonga just two weeks after the country was rocked by a huge volcanic eruption.
The United States Geological Survey recorded the tremor at a depth of 14.5km around 136 miles west-northwest of the village of Pangai, in Tonga’s Ha’apai islands.
Satellite photographs show once lush green parts of Tonga turned brown and houses flattened.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service Pago Pago tweeted that based on available data there is currently not a tsunami threat to American Samoa from the earthquake.
The UK said yesterday the HMS Spey arrived in Nuku’alofa with 30,000 liters of bottled water, medical supplies basic sanitation, and baby products.
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said: “Responding to humanitarian crises across the globe is a core part our of Armed Forces’ daily business.
The crew and company of HMS Spey have demonstrated that this week by delivering this vital aid.”
The Australian government said its ship had completed the 2,050-mile voyage from Brisbane.
It said in a statement: “We appreciate the decision of the government of Tonga to enable HMAS Adelaide to dock and offload the humanitarian and medical supplies, and the high priority it has placed on COVID safety throughout the recovery process.
“The ship is undertaking an entirely contactless delivery of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies.”
Other images show the island of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai has completely disappeared following the volcanic eruption.
The main island Tongatapu has been heavily affected, with water damage being visible to the northern and southern sides.
The government of Tonga described the nation as suffering an “unprecedented disaster”.
New Zealand air force images also show areas blanketed with ash and damaged buildings.
Tongan diplomat Curtis Tu’ihalangingie described the damage as “alarming” and said he feared more deaths.
“Possibly there will be more deaths and we just pray that is not the case,” he said.
Video has also emerged showing the powerful tsunami waves washing ashore, tearing down fences as people flee for their lives.
According to the Tonga government around 50 people live on Mango and so far 65-year-old woman living there has been confirmed dead.
The volcano which last erupted in 2014, has also caused damage to the islands of Uoleva and Nomuka.
Early data suggests the eruption was the biggest since Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines 30 years ago, New Zealand-based volcanologist Shane Cronin told Radio New Zealand.
