'Tonga Government Reports First Damage Assessment of Undersea Volcano Eruption: "3 Dead, Dozens Injured"'

The forest on the beach of Tonga, an island nation in the South Pacific, covered in ash due to an underwater volcanic eruption on the 17th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The South Pacific island nation of Tonga, which suffered damage from a massive underwater volcanic eruption, has announced casualty information for the first time since the explosion.

According to major foreign media on the 18th, the Tongan government stated in a press release that so far, 3 deaths and several injuries have been reported. This is the first time the Tongan government has released an official damage tally since the incident.

Until now, the only confirmed fatality was a British woman, Angela Glover, who lost her life trying to save dogs at an animal shelter swept away by the tsunami. The Tongan government officially confirmed that a 65-year-old woman died on Mango Island and a 49-year-old man died on Nomuka Island.

It was further explained that on Mango Island, all houses were destroyed, on Fonoi'pu'a Island all houses except two collapsed, and Nomuka Island also suffered extensive damage.

Evacuation of residents who lost their homes is underway in the affected areas such as Mango Island and Atata Island, and due to volcanic ash spread across the islands, there is a serious problem with the supply of drinking water, the statement added.

Additionally, the Tongan Navy has dispatched medical teams to the outer islands of the Ha'apai archipelago and is supplying food and water. Mango Island is a small island with a population of 50, located about 70 km from the volcano. Atata Island, home to 100 residents, is about 50 km from the volcano.