Underwater Volcano Eruption in Tonga

An underwater volcano erupted on January 15, in Hunga Tonga, an island located in the South Pacific Ocean. This eruption lasted up to 11 hours; the blast sent ash, gas, and soot about 12 miles above the ocean's surface. The eruption reached a very large and powerful climax nearly 4 weeks later (Dec 20,2021- Jan15,2022), triggering a tsunami that hit Tonga's main island. Water levels rose nearly three feet in some areas, but people were able to escape. On at least three of Tonga's smaller islands, nearly all homes were destroyed.

The devastation from the tsunami and the volcano has damaged about 18.5% of Tonga's GDP . Tonga says that more than four-fifths of the population has been affected by the tsunami and falling ash. Fatafehi Fakafanua said on social media that “Tonga needs immediate assistance to provide its citizens with fresh water and food.” At press time, the Tonga government reported three deaths. Because the tsunami damaged an undersea cable, communications have been limited, and the full extent of the damage was yet to be clear. Approximately 103,000 lived on tongas island. All of which had to evacuate and find temporary homes, or possibly even permanent homes. The plums of gas, smoke and debris from the volcano reached 30 km into the sky, but the main health concerns are from ash in the air which people are breathing. At the moment, there are high levels of sulphur in the air and water. This is a risk to drinking water and fishing, which is vital to the Tongan people, and could lead to a rise in water temperatures. So, the priority is to find safe shelter and clean water, and to escape the volcanic smog. The eruption also released nitrogen oxide--two gases that create acid rain when they interact with water and oxygen in the atmosphere. Acid rain causes widespread crop damage and could affect Tongan staples such as taro, corn, bananas, and garden vegetables. Long-lasting effects include damage to coral reefs, crumbling coastlines and disrupting fisheries.

“It happened so fast, and the general atmosphere is panic," Seko Vailulu, a resident in Malapo, a small village on the main island of Tongatapu, said shortly after a lockdown was announced on February. 2, saying “he felt like a prisoner”. Lockdown restrictions eased started that Monday, with retail business moving to reopen as officials consider next steps. A curfew remains in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and in-person classes remain suspended.