KYODO Kyodo via Reuters
PACIFIC – The tsunami triggered by the spectacular eruption ofa volcano in the Tonga Islands caused “significant” damage to Nuku’alofa, the capital of the archipelago, said this Sunday, January 16 the Prime Minister new zealand Jacinda Ardern, but the threat was declared over.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) clarified at 0300 GMT that the tidal wave threat had “generally passed” for countries bordering the ocean, although slight variations in the level of the sea remain possible for a few hours.
SAT JAN 15 2022
THE TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS ENDED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE AT 0752 AM HST.SMALL SEA LEVEL CHANGES, STRONG OR UNUSUAL CURRENTS MAY PERSIST FOR SEVERAL ADDITIONAL HOURS IN SOME COASTAL AREAS AND APPROPRIATE CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED BY BOATERS AND SWIMMERS.
— NWS PTWC (@NWS_PTWC) January 15, 2022
“The tsunami had a significant impact on the northern shoreline of Nuku’alofa, with boats and large rocks washed ashore,” but no casualties were reported, Jacinda Ardern said, without specifying whether there were any. had suffered damage in the other islands of the archipelago.
New Zealand will send a military reconnaissance aircraft to fly over the area on Monday if the volcanic ash cloud permits.
Communications with Tonga have been cut since Saturday’s eruption damaged an undersea cable, but Jacinda Ardern said her government had contacted the New Zealand High Commission in the capital.
Jacinda Ardern said there was “no significant eruption underway” and ash had stopped falling, but further volcanic activity could not be ruled out.
The United States is ready to help
“Deeply concerned for the people of Tonga recovering from the aftermath of a volcanic eruption and tsunami,” tweeted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, adding that “the United States ready to send aid to our Pacific neighbours”.
Deeply concerned for the people of Tonga as they recover from the aftermath of a volcanic eruption and tsunami. The United States stands prepared to provide support to our Pacific neighbors.
—Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 16, 2022
Stunning views from space showed the timing of Friday’s Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption on one of Tonga’s uninhabited islands: a huge mushroom of smoke and ash, and a wave that immediately unleashed.
Today, the underwater volcano, “Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai”, located 65 km from the capital of Tonga, erupted.
It is one of the most violent volcanic eruptions ever captured by satellite.
Tsunami alert has been triggered.Impressive… pic.twitter.com/7SbLkoSIM3
— The Tracker (@_letraqueur_) January 15, 2022
It triggered a tsunami that flooded Pacific coasts from Japan to the United States to Peru.
See also on The HuffPost: Tonga: tsunami warning in the Pacific after the eruption of a volcano
