Tsunami Warning
Submarine volcano in the South Seas erupted: steam and gas were thrown up to 20 kilometers into the air
The submarine volcano erupted off the coast of Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, in 2009
© A2800 epa MATANGI TONGA ONLINE / DPA
An undersea volcano has erupted 30 kilometers southeast of the coast of Tonga. A huge cloud of gas and vapor can be seen from space.
The authorities have issued a tsunami warning because of the eruption of an undersea volcano near the island kingdom of Tonga in the South Seas. The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai threw ash, steam and gas up to 20 kilometers into the air on Friday, the Tonga Geological Survey (TGS) said. People have been urged to stay indoors and wear masks outside. There was no tsunami warning for Fiji, Samoa and New Zealand.
Satellite images show the eruption. The huge cloud of gas and vapor can be clearly seen.
The volcano has been active again and again since December. However, according to TGS, the latest eruption was seven times stronger than the last eruption. The agency also warned of possible acid rain in the region. Initially, only small tsunami waves of up to 30 centimeters were registered, according to the local weather office. The volcano is about 30 kilometers southeast of Tonga’s Fonuafo’ou Island (also known as Falcon Island).