A transport vessel of the Maritime Self-Defense Force departed Monday for Tonga as part of Japan's continuing relief efforts to the nation, which was hit by an undersea volcanic eruption and a tsunami earlier in the month.

The Osumi departed the Kure base in western Japan with 60,000 liters of drinking water prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a government-linked aid agency, as well as 60 high pressure washers to remove volcanic ash, according to the Defense Ministry.

Around 300 people are also on board as part of the aid effort.

The vessel is also carrying two hovercraft and two CH-47 Ground Self-Defense Force transport helicopters.

The helicopters will be used to rapidly disburse relief material, according to Hideki Yuasa, the Self-Defense Fleet's commander-in-chief responsible for the relief effort.

Yuasa said in a statement the fleet will do its "utmost" to help the nation in its recovery efforts.

The eruption of the undersea volcano on Jan. 15 sent tsunami waves across the Pacific, killing at least three people in Tonga and causing extensive damage to infrastructure and disrupting water supplies and communication networks.

The Tonga government said Friday that 84% of the population of around 107,000 have been affected by the falling ash and tsunami.

As part of its aid effort, Japan has already dispatched two C-130 and two C2 transport planes carrying drinking water and other supplies with the first batch having arrived in Tonga on Saturday.