Volcanic eruption in the Pacific: The authorities warn of flooding, there are reports of waves two meters high, also in the USA and South America. Now another country is on the alert.
The eruption of a submarine volcano in the South Pacific has triggered a tsunami in the region, according to the US Tsunami Warning Center. Tidal waves with a height of around 60 centimeters were measured, the authority said on Saturday. A tsunami warning was issued for all of Tonga on Saturday. The US West Coast was also warned: “Get away from beaches, ports and marinas,” the US Weather Service recommended to coastal residents of California to Alaska. According to media reports, two people in California were washed into the sea while fishing when the wave receded.
Japan also warns of high waves
In the meantime, the authorities in Japan have also issued a tsunami warning for the island’s Pacific coast. As Japanese media reported early Sunday morning (local time), tidal waves of around one meter high were registered on the coast of northeastern Iwate Prefecture and in southwestern Amami. There were initially no reports of damage or injuries. Residents have been urged to exercise extreme caution until the tsunami warning is lifted.
Local media in Tonga reported that tidal waves had inundated properties. It had rained ash and telephone connections had failed. According to media reports, Tonga’s King Tupou VI. brought to safety from the royal palace in the capital Nuku’alofa.
Impressive satellite images show the gigantic eruption on the ocean and its consequences for people. Watch the video above or here.
The extent of the damage was initially unclear. The Meteorological Authority of Australia spoke of a tsunami height of 1.2 meters. Experts reported on Twitter two-meter high waves in Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga.
The trigger for the tidal waves is a violent eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai. The volcano had already catapulted ash, steam and gas up to 20 kilometers into the air on Friday. Ash also rained down on Nuku’alofa. Another eruption is said to have occurred on Saturday morning, 20 minutes later the tsunami flooded houses, streets and cars in Tonga. Siren alarms were sounded in coastal towns.
“My brother thought bombs exploded”
“It was huge, the ground was shaking, our house was shaking,” a resident of the capital told the Stuff news portal. “It came in waves, my younger brother thought there were bombs going off nearby.” Locals called on people to “pray for us”.
Authorities in other Pacific countries also issued tsunami warnings, including Fiji, Samoa and New Zealand. Residents should avoid the coasts “due to strong currents and dangerous waves,” Fiji said. A TV reporter from Fiji posted a video on Twitter showing smaller tidal waves hitting land and people fleeing to safety in their cars. For Australia there were warnings for some islands. The authorities in New Zealand had said they would monitor the situation.
Residents flee to rooftops
The people of Tonga have been urged to leave the beaches and go to higher ground. Beach residents retreated to their rooftops and filmed large waves hitting their homes.
A warning was first issued for American Samoa, but was then lifted. Based on the available data, it can be assumed that the tsunami danger is over, but that there could still be fluctuations in sea level, it said.
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai has been on and off since December. The volcano is about 30 kilometers southeast of Tonga’s Fonuafo’ou Island (also known as Falcon Island).
UN chief expresses concern
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed concern over the consequences of the eruption of an undersea volcano near the island nation of Tonga. The UN chief was “deeply concerned” about reports of a tsunami and ash in the Pacific country, the United Nations said on Saturday in New York. He was also concerned about tsunami warnings for other countries. The UN is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide support.