New images appear to show the majority of structures on the Tongan island of Atatā have been wiped out after a tsunami and volcanic eruption last week.
The Tongan government has so far confirmed three deaths in relation to Saturday's eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, andall houses on the island of Mango were also wiped out.
The New Zealand Defence Force has described the damage to the island of Atatā as "catastrophic" in its surveillance photo, which was posted online by a resort based there.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar) also released an image of Atatā island on January 18, with an assessment that 72 structures had been damaged and the entire island covered in ash.
Other satellite imagery circulating online also appeared to show major damage on the island.
Atata Island #Tonga after the tsunami and volcano eruption. Airbus SPOT imaging on 1/16/22. This looks very grim. Largest structure in town survived, but awfully hard to conclude there was not catastrophic tsunami damage. pic.twitter.com/aBBEurc4h6
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Government today announced two naval ships with supplies had been approved for arrival in Tonga.
The ships were sent before an official request for help from the Tongan government, but the statement from Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta's office this afternoon confirmed the vessels - expected to arrive by Friday, depending on weather - had been approved.
The eruption was likely the world's largest in the past three decades, and support and aid efforts have been stymied by communications outages after the blast.
US company SubCom expected repairs to the undersea cable, which carries most of Tonga's communications, would take at least four weeks.
A mobile network was expected to be established using the University of South Pacific's satellite dish today, though the connection would likely be limited and patchy.
Volcanic activity and tsunami risk continues to be monitored.
