China provides emergency aid to hurricane-hit Tonga

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China has offered to help the Tongan government with its rescue and relief work after tropical cyclone Gita hammered the country, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Tuesday.

The Chinese government has initiated an emergency humanitarian aid mechanism to provide support to Tonga, according to a MOC statement, which did not specify further details.

Starting Monday night, tropical cyclone Gita hit Tonga, a South Pacific island country with over 100,000 residents, causing severe damage and losses.

Packing sustained winds as high as 195 kilometers per hour, Gita has destroyed 75 percent of buildings in the capital Nuku'alofa, flattening the nation's parliament.

It has also torn roofs off buildings and stopped water and power supplies, caused injuries and extensive economic damage.