Damage Reports Emerge From “Moonscape” Tonga

January 16, 2022 Natural Disasters, News

The BBC reports:

A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga that triggered tsunami waves has smothered the Pacific islands in ash, cut power and severed communications. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the tsunami had wreaked “significant damage”, washing boats ashore and battering beachside shops.

Locals say Tonga looks “like a moonscape” after being coated in a layer of volcanic ash. The dust was reportedly contaminating water supplies and making fresh water a vital need, Ms Ardern said.

Aid charities said the ash and smoke had prompted authorities to tell people to drink bottled water and wear face masks to protect their lungs. Satellite images suggest some outlying islands have been completely submerged by seawater.

The New York Times reports:

The tsunami was caused by an eight-minute eruption of the undersea volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai, located about 40 miles north of Tongatapu, Tonga’s main island, on which about 70 percent of the population live.

Contact with Tonga was still extremely limited on Sunday afternoon, and communication with more remote parts of the country had not yet resumed. Ms. Ardern said official damage assessments were not yet available because of the difficulties with communication.

Countries including Australia and New Zealand have offered the country aid, and a New Zealand Defense Force reconnaissance flight was set to deploy on Monday morning, subject to conditions, including ash fall.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports:



The eruption cut the internet to Tonga, leaving friends and family members around the world anxiously awaiting information. Even government websites and other official sources remained without updates on Sunday afternoon.

Tonga gets its internet via an undersea cable from Suva in Fiji. All internet connectivity with Tonga was lost at about 6.40pm local time on Saturday, said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis for the network intelligence firm Kentik.

On Tonga, which is home to about 105,000 people, video posted to social media showed large waves washing ashore in coastal areas and swirling around homes, a church and other buildings.

Tags

© joemygod.com 2025