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Tonga: Tsunami hits South Pacific island after volcano erupts



Satellite images show a giant ash cloud and shock waves propagating from the eruption.

Waves crossed the coast of Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa on Saturday, hitting coastal roads and flooding areas, according to CNN, radio New Zealand (RNZ).

A tsunami warning has been issued for the island of Tonga. Tsunami warnings have also been issued as far as New Zealand’s North Island.

The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano first erupted on Friday, sending a plume of ash 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) up in the air, according to RNZ.

A second eruption occurred on Saturday at 5:26 pm local time, RNZ reported.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said it recorded a 1.2 meter (about 4 feet) high tsunami near Nuku’alofa at 5:30pm local time on Saturday.

RNZ said Ash fell from the sky in Nuku’alofa on Saturday night and phone connection was disconnected.

The volcano is located about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) southeast of the Tonga island of Fonuafo’ou, according to RNZ.

In addition to the tsunami warning, Tonga’s Meteorological Agency issued warnings for heavy rain, flash floods and strong winds in inland and coastal waters.

Nearby Fiji also issued a public advisory asking people living in low-lying coastal areas to “move to safety in case of strong currents and dangerous waves.”

The Samoa Meteorological Agency said a tsunami warning was in effect for all low-lying coastal areas of Samoa. “All people living on low-lying coastal areas are advised to stay away from beach areas, and the public should limit access to coastal areas,” the agency said.

A tsunami advisory has also been issued for coastal areas on the north and east coasts of New Zealand’s North Island and the Chatham Islands, according to New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Authority. ants have “strong and irregular currents and unpredictable water surges”.

New Zealand’s official weather service said its weather stations around the country observed “a surge of pressure” on Saturday night from the eruption.

According to the NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, a previously issued tsunami warning for American Samoa has been cancelled.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, there is no tsunami threat to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from a “distant eruption,” according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Positive.

According to RNZ, the volcano has been active since December 20, but stopped working on January 11.

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