>> TONIGHT, THE FIRST IMAGES
TAKEN IN THE SKIES OVER TONGA
REVEALING VAST DEVASTATION
AFTER A VOLCANIC ERUPTION
TRIGGERED A MASSIVE TSUNAMI
LEAVING AT LEAST 3 DEAD. BUT
THE FEAR IS THAT NUMBER WILL
GROW HIGHER ONCE RESCUE CREWS
COULDN’T REACH THE RAVAGED
AREAS. THIS ONCE BUSTLING PORT
NOW BURRIED IN ASH AND DUST A
LUSH GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW
JUST A SEA OF GREY. THE ISLAND
THAT SURROUNDED THE UNDERWATER
VOLCANO BEFORE ITS ERUPTION.
NOW SEEMINGLY THE IMAGES
CAPTURED FROM PLANES TO BUY
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
PROVIDING A GLIMPSE OF THE
DESPERATE NEED ON THE GROUND.
THE ASH THAT NOW COVERS THE
ISLAND’S CREATING A DUAL
CRISIS CONTAMINATING THE WATER
SUPPLY LEAVING THOUSANDS WITH
NOTHING TO DRINK AND
BLANKETING THE AIRPORT’S
RUNWAYS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR PLANES CARRYING
HUMANITARIAN AID TO LAND 60%
OF THE RUNWAYS BEEN CLEARED.
>> AND THIS IS DONE MANUALLY.
I HEAR UP TO 200 VOLUNTEERS, A
SWEEPING THE RUNWAY IN
PREPARATION FULL. THE SURPRISE
TO LAND ON THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY.
>> NEW ZEALAND’S NAVY KNOW
SOMETHING BOTTLED WATER AND
OTHER ESSENTIALS BY BOAT.
THOSE SUPPLIES WILL TAKE DAYS
TO MASSIVE ERUPTION OVER THE
WEEKEND REPORTEDLY CAUSING A
TSUNAMI WITH WAVES MORE THAN
50 FEET HIGH THAT I MEAN,
GOVERNMENT SAYS IT BEGAN
RESCUE EFFORTS ON SUNDAY
FINDING SOME OUTER ISLANDS
COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY ITS
IMPACT. THE TIGHT KNIT ISLAND
COMMUNITY ALREADY BEGINNING TO
GRIEVE TOGETHER.
>> SOMEBODY ELSE LOSES A
PARENT. WE ALL FEEL IT. AND
THE SAME THIS. IF I WAS TO
HAVE ANY SUFFERING ON THE WAY
THAT I’M THAT IS THE NUNS.
FIELD. EXACTLY. MY FEELING.
THAT’S HOW CLOSE
>> THE FULL IMPACT OF THE
CATASTROPHIC NATURAL DISASTER.
STILL LARGELY UNKNOWN WITH
PHONE LINES AND INTERNET
ACCESS DOWN CONGRESS LEADER
TODAY WITH A GLIMMER OF HOPE
SAYING CELL AND INTERNET
SERVICE COULD BE BACK UP SOON.
THEN THAT NEXT 24 TO 48 HOURS.
>> THEY MAY BE ABLE TO RESTORE
SOME LEVEL OF SERVICE. WHAT
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR TOM INNS
IN TAMA OVERSEAS. IS THAT WILL
BE ABLE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH
OUR LOVED ONES. BUT THE TONE
GUNS AROUND THE WORLD.
>> THAT WAIT IS EXCRUCIATING
AS THE NEED FOR HELP GROWS.
MORE APPARENT BY THE DAY. MATT