Terrifying Videos Show Moment Of Tonga Volcanic Eruption And Tsunami Leaving Trail Of Destruction | Watch

Videos shared on social media and satellite images showed the spectacular undersea volcanic eruption triggering tsunami waves in the Pacific Island country of Tonga.

New Delhi: Tsunami waves triggered due to an undersea volcanic eruption in Tonga raised concerns among Pacific nations and humanitarian groups as they tried to establish communications with the island nation even as the volcano cut internet and telephone connections to the country. The eruption cut the internet to Tonga, leaving friends and family members around the world anxiously trying to get in touch to figure out if there were any injuries and the extent of the damage.

Videos shared on social media and satellite images showed the spectacular eruption that took place Saturday evening, with a plume of ash, steam and gas rising like a mushroom above the blue Pacific waters. A faint sonic boom could be heard in the video as the sound of tsunami waves crashing sounded more distinct.

I can't fathom seeing the #tonga Volcanic eruption in real-time from boat. This is insane.pic.twitter.com/1dXRa0lX25

— Doc V (@MJVentrice) January 15, 2022

1.14.2022: (correction on date) Large volcanic eruption near Tonga (Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano) today as seen from outer space. Shown on visible imagery using the Himawari satellite. #hiwx #tsunami #earthquake pic.twitter.com/Y18W7wvXl9

— NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) January 15, 2022

Dramatic changes in Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai captured by @planet from mid-Nov until this morning—only a couple of hours before the most recent eruption.#TongaVolcano #Tonga #TongaEruption pic.twitter.com/fATanmdIg8

— Dr. Tanya Harrison (@tanyaofmars) January 15, 2022

This is satellite imagery demonstrating the unbelievable scale of the Tonga wave propagation and impact, shared by @weatherdak pic.twitter.com/6NbgB9YEr2

— Chris Combs (@DrChrisCombs) January 15, 2022

Tsunami advisories were earlier issued for Japan, Hawaii, Alaska and the US Pacific coast. The US Geological Survey estimated the eruption caused the equivalent of a magnitude 5.8 earthquake. Scientists said tsunamis generated by volcanoes rather than earthquakes are relatively rare.

The Tonga Meteorological Services said a tsunami warning was declared for all of the archipelago, and data from the Pacific tsunami center said waves of 80 centimeters (2.7 feet) were detected, news agency The Associated Press reported.

Tonga gets its internet via an undersea cable from Suva, Fiji. All internet connectivity with Tonga was lost at about 6:40 pm local time, 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.

This photo of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai was taken on 14 Jan 2022 at 5:14pm, posted by the Tonga Geological Services, more info: https://t.co/lhi6w4MdU4 pic.twitter.com/XgKlepQyw0

— Dr Janine Krippner (@janinekrippner) January 15, 2022

The explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano was the latest in a series of dramatic eruptions. The Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano is located about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Nuku’alofa. In late 2014 and early 2015, a series of eruptions in the area created a small new island and disrupted international air travel to the Pacific archipelago for several days.

In 2019, Tonga lost internet access for nearly two weeks when a fiber-optic cable was severed. The director of the local cable company said at the time that a large ship may have cut the cable by dragging an anchor. Until limited satellite access was restored people couldn’t even make international calls.

(With inputs from AP)