China willing to offer assistance to tsunami-hit Tonga

Photo:CFP

The tsunami triggered by a massive underwater volcanic eruption off Tonga rarely seen in 30 years has neither caused deaths or injuries of Chinese nationals nor brought disastrous effects to China's coast so far, but its impacts on the whole Pacific region are being closely watched by China as people worry whether the natural disaster would catastrophically inundate the low-lying Tongan islands and affect the global climate.

The United Nations and many countries have expressed their readiness to help Tonga recover from disastrous tsunamis. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Sunday night that China is very concerned about the volcanic eruption off Tonga, tsunamis, volcanic ashes and other disasters it triggered.   

"China and Tonga are comprehensive strategic partners. China expresses deep sympathy and sincere condolence to its people and is ready to provide support within its capacity upon the Tongan request," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Sunday.  

The undersea Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano some 64 kilometers north of Tongan capital Nuku'alofa erupted violently with explosive force on Saturday, triggering tsunami warnings across the South Pacific and the West Coast of the US, and causing strong waves and currents in many coastal areas, the New York Times reported. 

Ash rained down across the islands, blocking out the sun, residents told media. The ash column reached around 30 kilometers high, meaning it punched into the stratosphere.

Officially named the Kingdom of Tonga, the South Pacific island country is an archipelago of 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited. It has a population of around 105,000 and has close ties with New Zealand and Australia.