International relief continues to pour in for Tonga tsunami victims

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - International aid continues to pour in for Tonga, an island nation hit by a deadly underwater volcano.

On Tuesday, Chinese naval ships anchored close to the capital Nuku’alofa to deliver relief supplies.

“More than 1,400 tons of relief supplies were delivered, mainly including mobile houses, tractors, generators, pumps, water purifiers, emergency food, and medical and epidemic prevention equipment. Before loading, all the materials have completed several disinfection treatment and sampling quarantine,” Chinese public broadcaster CGTN reported.

Last month, a massive volcanic eruption triggered a tsunami that hit most parts on the west side of Tonga’s main Tongatapu island.

The eruption was far more powerful than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, at the end of World War II, the US space agency NASA said.

Tonga, home to just over 105,000 people, is the third biggest archipelago nation of more than 170 South Pacific islands, many of which are uninhabited but covered with tropical rainforest.

Several countries, including China, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and India have extended a helping hand to Tonga after the disaster.

Earlier, two Chinese military aircraft delivered 33 tons of relief supplies to Tonga including drinking water, food, personal protective equipment (PPE), and tents.