Tonga Tsunami: Tsunami threat around the Pacific Ocean began to subside on Sunday after an underwater volcanic eruption, but massive ash clouds covered the tiny island nation of Tonga. Monitoring flights from New Zealand could also not be sent to assess the damage in Tonga.
Satellite images showed a thick layer of ash, steam and gas over the Pacific Ocean after the massive explosion on Saturday evening. The sound of the explosion could be heard as far away as Alaska. Terrible sea waves in Tonga began to reach the shores and people hurried to higher places to save their lives.
High-resolution Himawari satellite imagery of the #HungaTongaHungaHaapai volcanic eruption in Tonga
Our climate stations recorded a brief spike in air pressure as the atmospheric shock wave pulsed across New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/BfLzdq6i57
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) January 15, 2022
Due to the volcanic eruption, the internet came to a complete halt in Tonga, due to which people all over the world started getting restless to know the well-being of their relatives and friends there. No updated information has been given on the government’s website and other mediums till Sunday afternoon.
GOES satellite imagery captured the eruption of an underwater volcano near Tonga in the Pacific Ocean early this morning. This eruption has caused a tsunami across portions of coastal Alaska and California. pic.twitter.com/C4Os9U6UIa
— NWS Gray (@NWSGray) January 15, 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there were no official reports of injuries or deaths in Tonga so far. Also said that the officials have not been able to contact some coastal areas and small islands so far. “Communication links with Tonga are very limited. I know that the people of Tonga are very concerned here,” Ardern said.
This family were in church. They’d just finish having choir practice and the tsunami hit ️🇹🇴 pic.twitter.com/DLLFRJ9BAc
— KNOWKNEE (@JohnnyTeisi) January 15, 2022
The prime minister said boats and shops in the coastal areas of Tonga had suffered a lot. Nukulofa, the capital of Tonga, was covered with ash from the volcanic eruption. Ardern said the area’s water has also become contaminated and that clean drinking water is needed the most.
This is the moment tsunami waves crash into Tonga, after an underwater volcano erupted earlier on Saturday.
— 1News (@1NewsNZ) January 15, 2022
Relief agencies said that due to the thick layer of ash and smoke, officials have asked people to wear masks and drink bottled water. Ardern said New Zealand was unable to send a surveillance flight over Tonga on Sunday because the ash cloud covered 63,000 feet (19,000 m). Efforts will be made to send the plane again on Monday. Arrangements will also be made to deliver essential goods through ships and planes.
Tonga’s Hunga Tonga volcano just had one of the most violent volcano eruptions ever captured on satellite. pic.twitter.com/M2D2j52gNn
— US StormWatch (@US_Stormwatch) January 15, 2022
Dave Snyder, tsunami warning coordinator for the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, said it was unusual for the volcanic eruption to affect the entire ocean basin and it was a very frightening sight. Heavy sea waves after the volcanic eruption damaged boats as far as New Zealand and Santa Cruz, California, but there was no widespread damage. Snyder said he expects the tsunami threat to subside in the US and elsewhere.
Earlier tsunami warnings were issued for Japan, Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific coast of the US. The US Geological Survey estimated that the eruption was similar to a magnitude 5.8 earthquake. Scientists said tsunamis caused by volcanoes rather than earthquakes are relatively rare. Tonga has a population of 1,05,000.
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