The violent one eruption of volcano submarine Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai desató un tsunami that impacted this Saturday in Tonga, affected other islands in Oceania, and puts the Pacific coast on alert.
Until now no fatalities reported. The authorities issued a tsunami alert for the entire country after the violent eruption of the submarine volcano, located about 65 kilometers from the island of Tongatapu, the main island of this island nation populated by about 71,000 inhabitants.
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They also demanded that the entire population settled on the coasts go to high areas to shelter from the onslaught of the waves and wear masks before the ash rain caused by the volcano.
The big waves hit houses and buildings located on the beachfront and quickly flooded the surrounding area. This is shown by several videos published on social networks by witnesses who had taken refuge on the roof of their homes.
In the images shared by the inhabitants of the region, one can see the desperation of some to flee from the waves that destroy everything in their path, such as vehicles, houses and vegetation.
Those affected by the water reported that the volcano erupted at 5:20 p.m. (local time) and launched a huge cloud of ash in the air. The entry of the sea also affected a large part of the Vanua Levu island, in the northeast of Fiji, while the Samoan authorities have issued an alert before a possible rise in the waters that border it.
A tsunami hit Tonga this Saturday and affected other islands in Oceania (Photo: Video capture).
“Have been observed destructive tsunami waves estimated between 1 and 2.5 meters on some of our islands in Vanuatu. Tsunami waves are expected to remain possible along the coasts of all Vanuatu islands through tonight,” the Meteorological and Geological Hazards Department said in a statement.
Unlike tsunamis triggered by earthquakes, where tectonic plates unload their force and a second tsunami is unlikely to recur, the volcano could re-register a violent eruption that would create another ferocious tidal wave.
Tsunami alert in Chile, Ecuador, United States, Australia, Japan and coasts of the entire Pacific
The National Emergency Office (Onemi) of Chile alerted this Saturday about the possibility that a “minor tsunami” to Easter Island and part of the continental coast after the one caused by the eruption of a volcano in Tonga.
“For caution LEAVE BEACH AREA, due to minor tsunami”, was the emergency message of the Onemi that received throughout the hours the inhabitants of the beach and coastal areas of the Arica and Parinacota regions, and Coquimbo (north); Ñuble (center) and Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos (south).
The National Risk Management Service (SNGR) of Ecuador He also recommended this Saturday to suspend activities on the country’s coastline as a precaution.
The eruption of a volcano in the Tonga islands originated this Saturday tsunami alerts throughout the South Pacific to the west coast of the United States, while Japan reported that a tsunami with a risk of waves of up to three meters reached its coast.
The National Weather Service US issued tsunami warnings from California to Alaska, predicting waves of up to 60 centimeters, strong currents and coastal flooding.
Similar alerts were issued in New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu and Australia.
