Results for Natural events

A plume of ash, steam and gas has dispersed at a radius of 250km from the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai Volcano over Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Vava’u and Ha’apai group, Tonga Geological Services advised at 12:45pm today.

A national tsunami marine warning issued at 11:12am today, Fri. January 14, warns Tongans to stay away from coastal areas, after swirling abnormal tides drew crowds to the Nuku'alofa waterfront in the last hour. Tonga Geological Services stated that a volcanic eruption is forecasted to be imminent with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere likely, following new activity observed at the Hunga volcano 65km off Nuku'alofa this morning. Tonga Police are currently patrolling the seafront Vuna Road in the capital and using loud speakers to ask people to move away to higher ground.

Geologists consider that the eruption at Hunga volcano has died down, after observations yesterday, showed no signs of the volcanic plume for over 36 hours. Meanwhile, dark pumice floats have washed up on Tongatapu's north western beaches.

Seawater around the active Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano is contaminated with toxic volcanic discharge and local fishermen should assume that fish in these waters are poisonous, or poisonous if consumed, Tongan authorities warned today.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano continues to erupt intermittently, the Tonga Geological Services said this morning, warning residents in Ha'apai to cover water reservoirs in case of acid rain that may be caused by volcanic emissions in the atmosphere.

An explosive volcanic eruption shooting ash and pyroclastic material up to 350 metres above sea level was captured on camera yesterday, 22 Dec., by Tonga Navy crew, sailing close to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai active volcano. However, ash was not detected at the height of aviation, Taaniela Kula (TGS) said, “this is a point of discussion with the authorities.”

Tonga's erupting Hunga Ha'apai volcano put on a show of lightning at sunset tonight. As a large gaseous cloud continues to rise to 18km altitude and drift over all islands, Tongan residents were advised to protect their water tanks from possible acidic rainfall, until the volcanic eruption ceases.

A stunning and unusual moon rising high to the north of Nuku'alofa was clearly observable tonight in Tongatapu. The partial eclipse of the moon, ko e mate ʻa e māhina, began at 7:02pm, Friday 19 November, and ends at 01:03 Saturday morning Tonga time - a duration of 6 hours and 2 minutes.

When Pacific leaders joined forces last week ahead of a landmark COP26 climate summit - Tonga was not among them. The leaders from 11 Pacific Island nations met virtually with COP26 President Alok Sharma to set out their priorities for the major climate change summit in November.