Advertisement

Terrified Tongans flee tsunami after spectacular underwater volcanic eruption

This satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, shows the spectacular undersea volcano eruption.  - Japan Meteorology Agency 
This satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, shows the spectacular undersea volcano eruption. - Japan Meteorology Agency

Frightened Tongans fled to higher ground on Saturday after a massive underwater volcanic eruption - heard in neighbouring countries - triggered tsunami warnings across the South Pacific.

The latest eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano was so intense it was heard as "loud thunder sounds" in Fiji more than 500 miles away.

"A 1.2 metre (over 3.9 feet) tsunami wave has been observed at Nuku'alofa," Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said.

The Tonga Meteorological Services said a tsunami warning was in effect for all of the archipelago, and data from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center showed waves of 2.6 feet had been detected.

Tonga's King Tupou VI was reported to have been evacuated from the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa and taken by a police convoy to a villa well away from the coastline.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or the extent of the damage as communications with the small nation remained problematic.

Video posted to social media showed large waves washing ashore in coastal areas, swirling around homes and buildings.

Mere Taufa said she was in her house getting ready for dinner when the volcano erupted.

"It was massive, the ground shook, our house was shaking. It came in waves. My younger brother thought bombs were exploding nearby," she told the Stuff news website.

She said water filled their home minutes later and she saw the wall of a neighbouring house collapse.

"We just knew straight away it was a tsunami. Just water gushing into our home. You could just hear screams everywhere, people screaming for safety, for everyone to get to higher ground."

The initial eruption lasted at least eight minutes and sent plumes of gas, ash and smoke several kilometres into the air.

Fijian officials warned residents to cover water collection tanks in case of acidic rain fall.

Victorina Kioa of the Tonga Public Service Commission said that people should "keep away from areas of warning which are low-lying coastal areas, reefs and beaches".

The head of Tonga Geological Services Taaniela Kula urged people to stay indoors, wear a mask if they were outside and cover rainwater reservoirs and rainwater harvesting systems.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a "tsunami advisory" for American Samoa, saying there was a threat of "sea level fluctuations and strong ocean currents that could be a hazard along beaches".

Similar warnings were issued by authorities in New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu and Australia - where authorities said a swathe of coastline including Sydney could be hit by tsunami waves.

People in surrounding New South Wales state were "advised to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge".

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano sits on an uninhabited island about 40 miles north of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.

New Zealand's military said it was monitoring the situation and remained on standby, ready to assist if asked.

The explosion is the latest in a series of spectacular eruptions.

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.