Disasters

Why Tonga is opting for 'contactless' humanitarian aid
It's a pandemic predicament. Tongans are desperate for help after the volcanic eruption — but with only one recorded case of COVID-19 in their island nation, they’re also eager to keep the virus out.
Military flights sent to assess damage from Pacific volcano
The loss of an undersea cable leaves most Tongans unable to use the internet or make phone calls abroad. Those who have managed to get messages out described their country as looking like a moonscape as they began cleaning up from the tsunami waves and volcanic ash.
Pacific tsunami threat recedes, volcanic ash hinders response
The tsunami threat around the Pacific from a huge undersea volcanic eruption receded Sunday, but the massive ash cloud covering the tiny island nation of Tonga prevented surveillance flights from New Zealand to assess the extent of damage.
Large explosion outside Mogadishu airport, at least 8 killed
A large explosion outside the international airport in Somalia’s capital killed at least eight people and wounded nine others on Wednesday, a local doctor said.