3G service is expected to resume in 24 to 48 hours on Tonga’s main island with the arrival of humanitarian aid from New Zealand and Australia, the CEO of telecom operator Digicel said on Thursday.
Rescue teams have been sent to some of the outlying islands, including one where all the houses were destroyed and another where just two homes remain.
There have been three deaths in the disaster – two nationals and a woman from Britain.
Aid efforts have been hampered by ash continuing to fall from the volcano.
Volunteers have been sweeping the runway of the main airport to allow planes bringing drinking water and other supplies to land.
On Wednesday morning in Tonga, a UN representative for the region said that while clearing the ash had proven more difficult than expected, good progress had been made and it was hoped that flights might soon resume.
Communications with the island chain has been majorly disrupted after the single underwater cable connecting Tonga to the rest of the world was severed in the eruption on Saturday.
Mr Veitch praised the quick response of New Zealand and Australia in working to dispatch aid via ships and described a “very challenging” situation.
3G service is expected to resume in 24 to 48 hours on Tonga’s main island with the arrival of humanitarian aid from New Zealand and Australia, the CEO of telecom operator Digicel said on Thursday.
Residents on the main island will be able to receive emails and browse the internet once the service resumes, Anthony Seuseu.
Source: CGTN