A tsunami has hit Tonga’s largest island, Tongatapu, with sea waves reportedly reaching the capital following the eruption of an underwater volcano in the South Pacific.
Satellite images show a huge cloud of ash and shock waves spreading from the explosion.
Waves crossed the shoreline of the Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa on Saturday, flowing along coastal roads and flooding property, according to Radio New Zealand.
1.14.2022: (correction on date) Large volcanic eruption near Tonga (Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano) today as seen from outer space. Shown on visible imagery using the Himawari satellite. #hiwx #tsunami #earthquake pic.twitter.com/Y18W7wvXl9
– NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) January 15, 2022
The eruption at 06.10 Greek time of the submarine volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Hapai, about 65 kilometers north of Nuqualofa, the capital of Tonga, caused a 1.2 meter tsunami, according to the Australian Meteorological Service. The agency said it was continuing to monitor the situation but no tsunami alert was issued for Australian territory, according to Reuters.
83-centimeter tsunami waves were recorded by meters in Nuqualofa and waves of about 60 centimeters in Pango Pago, the capital of American Samoa, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
The U.S. military said in a statement that it had issued “tsunami warnings” for Samoa and Hawaii but that “tsunami alert was issued for areas near the volcano.”
Authorities in Fiji have issued a tsunami alert, urging residents to avoid coastal areas “due to strong currents and dangerous waves”.
Fiji One journalist Jesse Tuisinu posted a video on Twitter showing big waves reaching the shores, with citizens trying to get away in their cars. “It’s really dark in some areas of Tonga and people are trying to find safe haven after the explosion,” he said.
In New Zealand, the National Emergency Management Agency issued a warning for rising sea levels on the north and east coasts, noting that strong and unusually strong currents as well as unpredictable waves are expected in some areas.
On Friday, the volcano erupted, spewing ash and gas at a height of 20 kilometers, according to a post by the Tonga Geological Survey on Facebook.
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Source From: Capital
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