After a powerful undersea volcanic eruption Saturday evening near the island nation of Tonga, early reports gave an indication of the expanse of its destruction. Tonga, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, is just 40 miles from the volcano, and just over 1,000 miles off the coast of New Zealand.
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano
Hunga Tonga-Hunga
Ha’apai volcano
The New York Times
On Monday and Tuesday, the Royal New Zealand Defense Force and the Australian Defense Force dispatched reconnaissance flights, supply aircrafts and ships to aid with damage assessment and humanitarian response.
The map below incorporates initial reports from the government of Tonga, which detailed death and damage after the eruption triggered a tsunami that battered the nation and flung a plume of ash thousands of feet into the air, blanketing the islands.
Vava’u
Communications were
limited to satellite phone
after the eruption destroyed
undersea cables.
15-meter (50-foot)
waves struck
the Ha’apai islands.
Emergency responders were deployed
to Nomuka, Mango, and Fonoifua islands
on Tuesday, where an evacuation was underway.
Fonoifua island
Only two homes remain.
Nomuka island
A 49 year-old man died.
Extensive damage was reported.
Mango island
A 65 year-old woman died.
All homes were destroyed.
Tongatapu island
15-meter (50-foot) waves caused
extensive damage along
the western coast. Only domestic
phone calls were possible.
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano
Atata island
Search and rescue operations began
Sunday. Residents were being evacuated.
Kanokupolu
Officials said 21 homes
were destroyed and
35 severely damaged.
‘Eau island
Two homes were destroyed
and 45 severely damaged.
Kolomotu’a
Eight homes were destroyed
and 20 severely damaged
in this suburb of the island’s
capital, Nuku’alofa.
Vava’u
Communications were
limited to satellite phone
after the eruption destroyed
undersea cables.
15-meter (50-foot)
waves struck
the Ha’apai islands.
Emergency responders were
deployed to Nomuka, Mango,
and Fonoifua Islands on Tuesday,
where an evacuation was underway.
Fonoifua island
Only two homes remain.
Nomuka island
A 49 year-old man died.
Extensive damage was reported.
Mango island
A 65 year-old woman died.
All homes were destroyed.
Hunga Tonga-Hunga
Ha’apai volcano
Tongatapu island
15-meter (50-foot) waves caused
extensive damage along
the western coast. Only domestic
phone calls were possible.
Atata island
Search and rescue operations
began Sunday. Residents
were being evacuated.
‘Eau island
Two homes were destroyed
and 45 severely damaged.
Kanokupolu
Officials said 21 homes
were destroyed and
35 severely damaged.
Kolomotu’a
Eight homes were destroyed
and 20 severely damaged in this
suburb of the island’s capital.
Vava’u
Communications were
limited to satellite phone
after the eruption
destroyed undersea cables.
15-meter (50-foot)
waves struck
the Ha’apai islands.
Fonoifua island
Only two homes remain.
Nomuka island
A 49 year-old man
died. Extensive
damage was reported.
Mango island
A 65 year-old woman died.
All homes were destroyed.
Tongatapu island
15-meter (50-foot) waves caused
extensive damage along
the western coast. Only domestic
phone calls were possible.
Hunga Tonga-Hunga
Ha’apai volcano
Atata island
Search and rescue
operations began
on Sunday morning
and an evacuation
process has begun.
‘Eau island
Two homes were destroyed
and 45 severely damaged.
Kanokupolu
Officials said 21
homes were
destroyed and 35
severely damaged.
Kolomotu’a
Eight homes were
destroyed and 20 severely
damaged in this suburb
of the island’s capital.
The New York Times
Satellites captured the massive eruption. Among the many effects observed by scientists were about 400,000 lightning incidents recorded in the 12 hours after the eruption.
Lightning data from Vaisala
The New York Times
