Ardern on damage in Tonga after Pacific tsunami

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that her administration stands ready to support Tonga in the wake of a huge undersea volcanic eruption, but emphasised that the extent of damage remained unclear.  

The eruption cut the internet to Tonga. Even government websites and other official sources remained without updates on Sunday afternoon. 

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister said " We really don't have much information at all around what has the impact of the volcano on those low lying areas and islands. And I think that's one of the reasons that for Tonga and certainly the support that we're looking to provide is around that reconnaissance flight to be able to establish the impact on a wider area.

Ardern said New Zealand was unable to send a military surveillance flight over Tonga on Sunday because the ash cloud was 63,000 feet high but they hoped to send the flight on Monday, followed by supply planes and navy ships.