Tonga could be cut off for weeks amid efforts to repair undersea communications cable

Threat of new volcanic eruption could prevent access by repair ship, which is en route from 4,000km away

The mission to repair the undersea communications cable that connects Tonga with the rest of the world could take up to a fortnight, the cable operator has warned, due to risks that a subsequent volcanic eruption could endanger a repair ship.

Thousands of families remained without word from loved ones across Tonga, four days after the massive eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano sent tsunami waves across the archipelago, and blanketed islands in ash.