First set of necessary supplies reach Tsunami impacted Tonga

The first international planes have landed in Tonga, bringing desperately needed supplies to the Pacific nation ravaged by a volcano explosion and ensuing tsunami on Saturday.

After workers cleaned ash from the runway, New Zealand's military plane arrived at Tonga's main airport. Australia also verified the arrival of the first of its rescue flights.

The ash from the volcano had originally impeded aid attempts. At least three people are declared dead, communications have been disrupted, and Tonga is only now beginning to re-establish worldwide contact after being cut off for five days.

New Zealand's Defence Force stated on Thursday that its C-130 Hercules plane landed in Tonga shortly after 16:00 local time (03:00 GMT), carrying w ater containers, temporary shelter kits, electrical generators, hygiene and family supplies, and communications equipments.

Following that, Australian defence minister Peter Dutton tweeted that the first plane transported by the Australian Defence Forces had landed with "humanitarian help and disaster relief materials."

The first of Australia's two Boeing C-17 Globemaster relief planes was equipped with a "sweeping" gear to help keep the runway free.

For days, rescue crews and hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly to clear a heavy layer of ash off the airport runway in Nuku'alofa, which had blocked planes from landing.

Volunteers utilised wheelbarrows and shovels in a "enormous effort," according to New Zealand's commander of combined forces, Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour.

"All of Tonga immediately turned grey after the eruption," Tongan journalist Marian Kupu told the BBC from the capital, Nuku'alofa. "We're talking about pets, automobiles, and structures, all of which were coated in ashes."

The thickness of the ashfall, according to Ms Kupu, made clearing the runway "challenging" and posed a health risk to those working on it, who were "primarily young guys."