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2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami

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2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga
Ash Plume from Eruption at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, Tonga 24 December 2021
VolcanoHunga Tonga
Start date14 January 2022
End dateOngoing
LocationPacific Ocean, Tonga
20°32′24″S 175°22′48″W / 20.540°S 175.380°W / -20.540; -175.380 (Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai)

A large eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in Tonga in the Pacific Ocean occurred on 15 January 2022. A tsunami struck Tonga, a tidal wave was recorded in Fiji, and tsunami warnings were issued in Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia.

Background

On 20 December 2021 the volcano erupted, sending particulates into the stratosphere, and a large plume that was visible from Nukuʻalofa.[1] The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center, Wellington issued an advisory to airlines.[2] Explosions could be heard up to 170 kilometres (110 mi) away.[3] The initial eruption continued until 2am on 21 December.[1] Activity continued, and on 25 December, satellite imagery showed that the island had increased in size.[4] As activity on the island decreased, it was declared dormant on 11 January 2022.[5]

Eruptions

An animation of the eruption over the southern Pacific Ocean

A large eruption began on 14 January on the Hunga Tonga volcano, sending clouds of ash 20 kilometres (12 mi) into the atmosphere.[6] The government of Tonga issued a tsunami warning to residents.[7] Tongan geologists near the volcano observed explosions and a 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) wide ash column.[8]

The following day, a significantly larger eruption occurred at approximately 17:00 (04:00 UTC). The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Wellington issued an advisory to airlines.[9] Ash from the eruption made landfall on the main island of Tonga, covering the sun and turning the day into night. Loud explosions were heard in Nuku'alofa, and small stones and ash fell from the sky.[10] Many residents in Tonga were stuck in traffic while fleeing to higher ground.[11] The shockwave was heard as far away as Samoa.[12][13] Residents in Fiji described the sounds of thunder. Booms were heard in the North Island of New Zealand. From space, the shockwaves were seen propagating across the Pacific by satellite footages.[14]

Impact

There has not been any information on the extent of damage and casualties from Tonga due to communication issues.[15]

Tsunami

As a result of the eruption on 15 January, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake,[16] and a 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) tsunami,[17] struck the Tongan capital Nukuʻalofa.[5][18] Meanwhile, tide gauges in Nuku'alofa showed that the waves were 1.5–2 meters in height.[19] Videos posted on social media showed a series of waves hitting the shore and homes, sweeping away debris.[20] Other videos show ash fall and a cloud of ash covering the sun.[5]

According to a resident in the Tongan capital, a series of explosions were heard at first. It was accompanied by a tsunami approximately 15 minutes later. The first wave was said to be the largest. A long white wave was seen out in the sea before approaching the coast. Three waves reportedly struck the coast.[21]

In Fiji, a tidal gauge in Suva recorded a wave measuring 20 centimeters at 5:40 pm local time. Some tsunami activity was also reported in the Lau Islands.[19] On American Samoa, a tsunami measuring 2 feet (0.6 meters) was indicated by tide gauges.[14]

Response

A tsunami warning was issued on 14 January after an eruption was observed. Volcanic activity decreased following that eruption and the warning was lifted in the early morning of 15 January. A 30-centimeter wave was observed during the first tsunami warning.[22]

Another warning was issued to the whole of Tonga on the evening of 15 January following another large eruption.[22] Warning sirens blared in Nukuʻalofa while authorities urge residents to flee to higher ground.[23]

The Mineral Resources Department in Fiji issued advisories to people living around the coastal areas to stay away from the shores.[24] Evacuations were made on the Lau Islands after wave activity was observed in the sea.[19] Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum urged the public to stay indoors and cover household water tanks in the event of rain due to the risk of sulfuric acid generated from the eruption.[25]

Tsunami warnings were also issued to American Samoa by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC).[26][27] The PTWC considered the tsunami "hazardous" and warned that changes in sea level, as well as strong currents could pose a risk along the coast.[28] Samoa later issued a tsunami advisory.[29]

The National Emergency Management Agency of New Zealand told residents to expect "strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges" along the north and east coast of North Island and the Chatham Islands.[30] The agency added that the currents have the potential to injure and drown people.[31]

The Japan Meteorological Agency informed residents that a slight disturbance in the sea could occur without any damage.[15] The tsunami would not pose a threat to Japanese coastline. Officials from the JMA said that sea level rise of no more than 20 centimeters can be expected for 24 hours since 9:00 p.m. Japanese Standard Time.[32]

A tsunami advisory was issued to the West Coast of the United States by the PTWC. Tsunami waves measuring 1 to 2 foot are expected to hit the shores at 07:30 local time along the Central Coast. The highest tsunami waves are expected 1 to 2 hours after the arrival of the first waves.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Mary Lyn Fonua (21 December 2021). "Air NZ funeral flight to Tonga cancelled as Hunga eruption continues". Matangi Tonga. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  2. ^ "VA ADVISORY". VAAC. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Undersea volcano sends plume of steam into the skies near Tonga". NewsHub. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Tonga volcano grows in size as eruption continues for sixth day". RNZ. 25 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Waves hitting Tonga as volcano tsunami warning is in place". 1 News. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Underwater volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai erupts again". Radio New Zealand. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Tonga tsunami warning lifted, volcano still being monitored". 1 News. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Tongan geologists observe stunning eruptions at Hunga". Matangi Tonga. 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  9. ^ "VA ADVISORY". VAAC Wellington. 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  10. ^ "New tsunami warning as waves hitting Tonga". Kaniva Tonga. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  11. ^ Louise Cheer (15 January 2022). "Tsunami hits Tonga after 'catastrophic' volcano eruption". Yahoo News Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  12. ^ Fijivillage. "Loud thundery sounds being experienced in Fiji are from the huge volcanic eruption in Tonga". www.fijivillage.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  13. ^ Martin, Hannah; Bohny, Skara; Ockhuysen, Stephanie; Tokalau, Torika (15 January 2022). "'Screams everywhere': Tsunami waves crash through homes in Tonga after eruption". Stuff.
  14. ^ a b Oli Smith (15 January 2022). "Tonga tsunami: Satellite footage shows moment of volcanic shockwave - apocalyptic scenes". Daily Express. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Tonga hit by tsunami after undersea volcano eruption". The Associated Press. Georgia Public Broadcasting. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  16. ^ "M 4.0 - 68 km NNW of Nuku'alofa, Tonga". USGS. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  17. ^ "National No Threat Bulletin issued 4:58PM AEDT Saturday 15 January 2022". Australian Bureau of Meterology. 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Another tsunami warning issued for Tonga". FBC News. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Semi Turaga; Vijay Narayan. "Full Story: Stay out of the water & away from the shore due to strong currents & dangerous waves - Mineral Resources Department". Fijivillage. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Footage shows waves crashing into homes as tsunami warning sounds in Tonga". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Journalist based in Tonga describes 'huge' volcanic explosions". 1 News. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Tsunami warning now issued for all of Tonga". Radio New Zealand. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  23. ^ George Clark (15 January 2022). "Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai eruption: Tsunami alert for Tonga following underwater volcanic eruption". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Tsunami alert in effect for Fiji". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ Fijivillage. "AG urging people to cover water tanks & stay indoors during rain due to the risk of sulfuric acid". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "Message: American Samoa Warn/Adv./Watch #1". tsunami.gov. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  27. ^ "PACIFIC: A hazardous tsunami has been generated by volcanic activity in Tonga. Monitoring is underway to evaluate the threat. TSUNAMI ADVISORY for American Samoa. (Source: PTWC)". Twitter. U.S. Emergency Alert. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Tonga volcano generates tsunami, U.S. tsunami monitor said". Reuters. 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  29. ^ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (15 January 2022). "Samoa's MET issues tsunami warning". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  30. ^ @NZcivildefence (January 15, 2022). "We have issued a NATIONAL ADVISORY: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY following the Tongan eruption. We expect New Zealand coastal areas on the north and east coast of the North Island and the Chatham Islands to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ^ William Hewett (15 January 2022). "National Emergency Management Agency issues tsunami advisory for New Zealand after Tonga volcano eruption". Newshub. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Officials: No tsunami threat to Japan". NHK. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  33. ^ Cristal Hamer (15 January 2022). "1-2 foot tsunami waves expected on Central Coast following Tongan volcano eruption". KSBW. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
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