SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Geologists observe the eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, 40 miles north of Tongatapu, on January 15, 2022. (Photo: Tonga Geological Services/Facebook)
Tsunami Triggered by Huge Volcanic Eruption Hits Tonga
The undersea volcano's eruption also sparked tsunami warnings for Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, and the West Coast of the United States.
Jan 15, 2022
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
A major volcanic eruption near Tonga triggered tsunami waves that hit the shores of the Pacific island nation on Saturday, forcing people to flee the streets and their homes in search of higher ground.
The extent of the damage and whether there have been any injuries or deaths remains uncertain. According to the Associated Press, "communications with the small nation remained cut off hours after the eruption" of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, which is located roughly 40 miles north of Tonga's main island.
The Tonga Geological Services said in a Facebook post that the volcanic eruption sent "plumes up to 20 km above sea level."
"It came in waves, my younger brother thought bombs were exploding nearby," one Tonga resident said of the eruption.
Video footage and images posted to social media showed significant flooding following the volcanic explosion:
Satellite footage, meanwhile, offered a view of the massive eruption from outer space:
As the New York Times reported Saturday, "Other recent infrared satellite imagery suggested that the underwater volcano was still erupting, and despite Tonga's geographical isolation, a booming sound was heard after the initial eruption as far as New Zealand (which is 1,100 miles northeast of Tongatapu)."
In addition to the potentially destructive impact on Tonga, the volcanic eruption sparked tsunami warnings for Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, and the West Coast of the United States.
"West Coast residents be prepared for impacts in bays and harbors," the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center wrote in a Twitter post Saturday morning. "Live-aboards seek shelter and high ground. Follow local instructions."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
A major volcanic eruption near Tonga triggered tsunami waves that hit the shores of the Pacific island nation on Saturday, forcing people to flee the streets and their homes in search of higher ground.
The extent of the damage and whether there have been any injuries or deaths remains uncertain. According to the Associated Press, "communications with the small nation remained cut off hours after the eruption" of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, which is located roughly 40 miles north of Tonga's main island.
The Tonga Geological Services said in a Facebook post that the volcanic eruption sent "plumes up to 20 km above sea level."
"It came in waves, my younger brother thought bombs were exploding nearby," one Tonga resident said of the eruption.
Video footage and images posted to social media showed significant flooding following the volcanic explosion:
Satellite footage, meanwhile, offered a view of the massive eruption from outer space:
As the New York Times reported Saturday, "Other recent infrared satellite imagery suggested that the underwater volcano was still erupting, and despite Tonga's geographical isolation, a booming sound was heard after the initial eruption as far as New Zealand (which is 1,100 miles northeast of Tongatapu)."
In addition to the potentially destructive impact on Tonga, the volcanic eruption sparked tsunami warnings for Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, and the West Coast of the United States.
"West Coast residents be prepared for impacts in bays and harbors," the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center wrote in a Twitter post Saturday morning. "Live-aboards seek shelter and high ground. Follow local instructions."
This is a developing news story... Check back for possible updates...
A major volcanic eruption near Tonga triggered tsunami waves that hit the shores of the Pacific island nation on Saturday, forcing people to flee the streets and their homes in search of higher ground.
The extent of the damage and whether there have been any injuries or deaths remains uncertain. According to the Associated Press, "communications with the small nation remained cut off hours after the eruption" of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, which is located roughly 40 miles north of Tonga's main island.
The Tonga Geological Services said in a Facebook post that the volcanic eruption sent "plumes up to 20 km above sea level."
"It came in waves, my younger brother thought bombs were exploding nearby," one Tonga resident said of the eruption.
Video footage and images posted to social media showed significant flooding following the volcanic explosion:
Satellite footage, meanwhile, offered a view of the massive eruption from outer space:
As the New York Times reported Saturday, "Other recent infrared satellite imagery suggested that the underwater volcano was still erupting, and despite Tonga's geographical isolation, a booming sound was heard after the initial eruption as far as New Zealand (which is 1,100 miles northeast of Tongatapu)."
In addition to the potentially destructive impact on Tonga, the volcanic eruption sparked tsunami warnings for Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, and the West Coast of the United States.
"West Coast residents be prepared for impacts in bays and harbors," the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center wrote in a Twitter post Saturday morning. "Live-aboards seek shelter and high ground. Follow local instructions."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy