Tsunami hits Tonga after giant undersea volcano eruption

Tsunami waves caused by a giant underwater volcanic eruption have hit the Pacific country of Tonga.

On Saturday, powerful waves have been seen hitting the shores of Tonga after an undersea volcano erupted, following which the Pacific nation issued a tsunami warning.

Video posted to social media showed large waves washing ashore in coastal areas.

Stay safe everyone 🇹🇴 pic.twitter.com/OhrrxJmXAW

— Dr Faka’iloatonga Taumoefolau (@sakakimoana) January 15, 2022

The meteorological service said a tsunami warning had been put in force for all of Tonga.

The explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano was the latest in a series of spectacular eruptions.

Earlier, the Matangi Tonga news site reported that scientists observed massive explosions, thunder and lightning near the volcano after it started erupting on Friday. 

The site said satellite images showed a 5-kilometer (3 mile) -wide plume of ash, steam and gas rising up into the air to about 20 kilometers (12 miles).

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said some parts of New Zealand could expect “strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a large volcanic eruption”.

As per US Emergency Alert Twitter page, a "hazardous tsunami" had been created by the eruption, and a tsunami warning had been issued for American Samoa as well.

Meanwhile, the US StormWatch account described the eruption as "one of the most violent" ever captured on satellite.

Tonga's Hunga Tonga volcano just had one of the most violent volcano eruptions ever captured on satellite. pic.twitter.com/M2D2j52gNn

— US StormWatch (@US_Stormwatch) January 15, 2022