Photo/Illutration Self-Defense Force personnel load relief supplies for Tonga onto the Maritime SDF transport vessel Osumi in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Jan. 24. (Jun Ueda)

KURE, Hiroshima Prefecture--Drinking water, cleaning machines and other emergency supplies were being loaded onto a Maritime Self-Defense Force transport vessel on Jan. 24 here, which will soon set sail for hard-hit Tonga. 

The Osumi, 178 meters in length and 8,900 tons in standard displacement, will depart from Kure Naval Base for Tonga, which suffered major damage from an underwater volcano eruption.

From the morning of Jan. 24, a line of trucks loaded with relief supplies came to the Kura base, and SDF members sorted those supplies and carried them onto the ship.

According to an official at the naval base, the transport vessel will carry supplies provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, including 60,000 liters of drinking water, plastic containers and 60 high-pressure washers.

The washing equipment is needed to remove the volcanic ash that blanketed the Pacific island nation following the eruption.

The transport vessel will also carry two MSDF LCAC air-cushioned landing craft and two Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47 helicopters, as well as trucks.

About 300 MSDF and GSDF personnel are scheduled to arrive at the Tonga islands in 10 days or so. The personnel all tested negative for COVID-19 through PCR testing, which has been a concern as remote Tonga is trying to stop the novel coronavirus from being introduced through relief efforts. 

The Defense Ministry has already dispatched Air Self-Defense Force transport aircraft loaded with relief supplies to Tonga on Jan. 20 for emergency assistance.

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