INTERNATIONAL: The first Australian military transport aircraft carrying much-needed humanitarian supplies landed in Tonga on Thursday,January 20, five days after the South Pacific island nation was hit by a volcanic eruption and tsunami that devastated communities and spoiled most of its drinking water.

The C-17A Globemaster III aircraft has landed at Tonga's Fua'amotu International Airport, after a blanket of volcanic ash was cleared off the runway.

The Australian defence minister has said its aircraft was loaded with supplies including water desalination equipment, shelter, kitchens, and a sweeper to help remove ash from the airport. The delivery of the supplies was contactless to ensure Tonga remains free of the coronavirus.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano on Saturday,January 15, has killed at least three people, sent tsunami waves rolling across the archipelago, damaging villages, resorts and many buildings and has knocked out communications for the nation of about 105,000 people.

^{PHOTO: PERSONNEL FROM THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE PREPARING AND LOADING AID BOUNDED FOR TONGA ONTO AIRCRAFT / AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC / AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE C-17A GLOBEMASTER III AIRCRAFT ON TARMAC AT FUA'AMOTU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN TONGA, TONGA'S PRIME MINISTER SIAOSI SOVALENI STANDING NEXT TO AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO TONGA RACHAEL MOORE UPON ARRIVAL OF AUSTRALIAN AID}