Tonga’s government has called for “immediate assistance” after a massive eruption by a nearby undersea volcano on Saturday, which was followed by a destructive tsunami, an official has said via satellite phone. The Australian and New Zealand governments dispatched surveillance flights to the Pacific island on Monday to help restore communications and assess the damage. Parliament Speaker Lord Fakafanua said via satellite phone early Monday that the COVID-19-free but ash-covered nation is in need of COVID-safe support to ensure enough fresh drinking water and food, and that internet remains down due to damage to an undersea cable. “Many areas were affected by substantial volcanic ashfall. Communications remain down and the full extent of the harm to lives and property is currently unknown,” Fakafanua said in a statement shared by Tonga-based reporter John Pulu on social media. He said that details about Tonga’s official disaster relief fund would be announced soon, and that …