84% of Tonga's population impacted by volcano eruption and tsunami

(News1st); An estimated 84 per cent of Tonga's population was affected by the ash fall and the tsunami caused by the massive volcanic eruption and initial damage assessment teams are conducting visits and aerial surveys of the country, the government said on Friday (21) in an official update following the disaster.

The government did not report any deaths besides the three people known to have been killed in the tsunami.

The goverment repored that there were under two dozen injuries, most from Nomuka island.

The three victims have been identified as Lataimaumi Lauaki a 49-year-old woman from Nomuka, Telai Tetu'ila, a 65-year-old man from Mango, and British national Angela Glover, 50, whose death was confirmed by her family last week.

Moreover, it noted that 62 people on Mango, one of the worst-hit islands, had to be relocated to Nomuka "after losing their homes and all of their personal belongings."

Rescuers have set up a field hospital thereafter the existing clinic was swept away in the tsunami.

The government added, however, that many of those residents may be moved again to the main island Tongatapu due to a lack of food and supplies.

Water remains the key need on the islands. But officials noted that despite the ash fall, testing in recent days had cleared groundwater and rainwater as safe to drink.

Ships and planes carrying foreign aid have been arriving in Tonga since last week after locals were finally able to clear the island's only airport runway of ash.