Volcanic Eruption: Tonga

Noah Bhalloo (G9)

Published Issue 4 2021-2022

Current Events

January 26th, 2022

An underwater volcano near the islands of Tonga erupted on the 15th of January this year. This is said to be the biggest underwater volcano recorded to have erupted in approximately 30 years, since Pinatubo erupted in 1991 off the Philippines. The Tonga volcano was named the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai, named after its location. This volcano had brought gas and steam as well as a thick layer of ash into the atmosphere and skies above Tonga. In fact, this was recorded to have sent ash 100,000 feet into the clear skies, with Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital and largest city, covered with dark gray clouds.

Like many underwater volcanoes and earthquakes, Tonga’s natural disaster led to a tsunami, causing damage spread out across the western coast of Tongatapu, the biggest island in Tonga. The tsunami was able to reach up to 15 meters on the island (approximately 50 feet). The massive explosion was also felt by Tonga’s Pacific neighbors and warnings were issued for other pacific coast countries such as the U.S, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. This tsunami affected about 84,000 people on the island, which amounts to 80% of the entire island.

At least three people on the islands of Tonga were reported dead from this event. With the eruption widespread across the Pacific, it was also reported that two people died in the nation of Peru in South America due to the contaminated air and lack of clean water from the washed up tides.

Looking at the aftermath of the volcanic eruption on the islands, the nation has planned to use $340,000 for technical support, and relief supplies. However, Sione Hufanga with the UN News said, “The resources that we have in the ground are not good enough”. We ought to look at the situation and ask, have we done enough, for this very small country, isolated in the Pacific Islands. Ever since the eruption, ships and planes have been docking and landing on the island with humanitarian aid and assistance as well as other support. The UN agencies had also done their part to provide health kits for the affected citizens. The World Health Organization has distributed medical teams across the island of Ha’apai.

While it comes to long term effects on Tonga from the volcano’s damage, livestock owned by farmers and families has been deeply affected across the island, mainly perishing animals. This also includes the many fisheries in Tonga. Fortunately, these are the only long term effects to be noted. Otherwise, Tongan citizens and visitors mourn over their losses from the worst natural disaster to have even struck the island of Tonga.