COVID-19 outbreak hits Australian navy on Tonga recovery mission

A COVID-19 outbreak has hit the HMAS Adelaide, causing 23 cases so far as the navy supply ship makes its way from Australia to Tonga to help with disaster recovery.

HMAS Adelaide is carrying recovery equipment and personnel to help repair damage from a tsunami that swept the across the Tongan archipelago and blanketed the ground in ash after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted just 65 kilometres from the capital, Nuku’alofa.

Soldiers entering the HMAS Adelaide at the Port of Brisbane on Thursday last week, before departing for Tonga.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News the ship would continue its journey and work with Tonga, which is currently free of the coronavirus, and has strict protocols to deliver aid in a COVID-safe way.

“We’ll work with the Tongan authorities to keep that vessel at sea to make sure there’s no threat. Obviously the Tongan government is discussing that at the moment,” Mr Dutton told Sky News. “They need the aid desperately, but they don’t want the risk of COVID.”

The Defence Department said it has stringent measures in place to manage COVID-19 exposure risks.

“The positive COVID cases, and close contacts, are being isolated and managed in accordance with COVID-safe protocols,” the Department said in a statement.

“HMAS Adelaide has excellent medical facilities onboard, including COVID testing capabilities and a 40-bed hospital with operating theatres and a critical care ward.”

HMAS Adelaide is expected to arrive in Tonga by tomorrow morning. It is carrying three helicopters that will drop supplies and equipment in a contactless way. Helicopters can also deliver aid to outlying islands in the Tongan archipelago.

About 84,000 people, or 80 per cent of the population, had been affected by the disaster. There are three confirmed fatalities.

About 100 houses were damaged on the main island of Tongatapu and 50 destroyed. There were severe impacts from the tsunami on more sparsely populated outlying islands. All houses on the island of Mango were destroyed and only two houses remained on Fonoifua, with extensive damage reported on Nomuka. Evacuation of people from Mango and Fonoifua to Nomuka is under way.

Homes have been damaged in the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa.

Drinking water was a pressing issue, with the ash and seawater contaminating supply. The government advised people to drink only bottled water.

New Zealand has also sent navy vessels, HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Aotearoa, with water, a desalination plant and other recovery equipment.

Faka’iloatonga Taumoefolau is the project coordinator for the Tonga Parliament Buildings Project, which is constructing a new waterfront complex for the nation’s government. He told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that international aid had been well coordinated and the most pressing concern was to support outlying islands.

“Recovery efforts are going well and coordinated by a central body the National Emergency Management Committee set up by the government of Tonga,” Dr Taumoefolau said.

“Right now the priorities is getting the supplies to the most impacted areas such as the outer islands.

The HMAS Adelaide is carrying CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to Tonga to deliver contactless aid supplies to aid the tsunami recovery effort.

“In terms of the needs right now for the Tongan people it is supplies, shelter, and water. This is being addressed in different ways not just by the government of Tonga and development partners but by the diaspora overseas and within the communities themselves.”

Communications could take up to a month to restore, with the undersea cable linking Tonga to the internet expected to take up to four weeks to repair. Telstra and the Australian government were working to establish satellite links.

Australia is collaborating on the aid effort with New Zealand, France, Fiji, the US, Japan and Britain.