UN authorities have stated that relief efforts in Tonga are being hampered by damaged communications, falling ash that has closed the main airport, and tight anti-COVID procedures, according to.

Stephane Dujarric, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “Needs evaluations by the Tongan authorities are ongoing and should provide a better approximation of what is required of the international community,”

The death toll remained at three, with an unknown number of people injured, according to officials.

There are 23 UN workers in Tonga, 22 local hires and one international staffer.

Jonathan Veitch, the UN acting resident and humanitarian coordinator for Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, described the issues that have arisen as a result of Saturday’s eruption in a video conference.