Hundreds flee to higher ground in Tonga as four-foot tsunami hits island nation after huge undersea volcano erupted in the Pacific and sent ash cloud 12 miles into the sky
Frightened Tongans fled to higher ground on Saturday after a massive volcanic eruption triggered the area's second tsunami in as many days, with four-foot waves hitting the shores of the island nation.
The 'violent' underwater volcanic eruption in the Pacific at 5.10pm local time was confirmed as the cause of the tsunami, which overwhelmed homes, buildings, fences, roads and cars in Tonga around 20 minutes later.
Locals pleaded for people to 'pray for us' as the eruption was compared to 'bombs going off' by those who heard it, followed by the tsunami surging ashore.
The eruption could be heard thousands of kilometres away and sparked warnings in New Zealand, Fiji, American Samoa and Australia.
Several Australian offshore territories are under a more serious threat, including Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Macquarie Island, officials said.
Satellite images showed a 3 mile wide plume rising into the air to about 12 miles.
Dramatic official aerial maps showed the eruption cloud over Tonga after the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcanco erupted (pictured, satellite images of the volanic eruption in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday)
Pictured: Satellite imagery shows the underwater explosion (left). The images showed a 3 mile wide plume rising into the air to about 12 miles
In this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, and released by the agency, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday
Locals pleaded for people to 'pray for us' as the eruption was compared to 'bombs going off' by those who heard it, followed by the tsunami surging ashore
The eruption was so intense it was heard as 'loud thunder sounds' in Fiji more than 500 miles away, officials in Suva said
Pictured: Image captured by NOAA's GOES West satellite and made available by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows an explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga, 13 January 2022
The eruption (pictured from a satellite) could be heard thousands of kilometres away and sparked warnings in New Zealand, Fiji and American Samoarterf
'A 1.2 metre tsunami wave has been observed at Nukualofa,' Australia's Bureau of Meteorology tweeted. The maximum tsunami wave recorded following Friday's explosion was 30 centimetres.
The Tonga Meteorological Services said the tsunami warning was in effect for all of Tonga, that is home to about 105,000 people.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or the extent of the damage as communications with the small nation remained problematic.
The eruption was so intense it was heard as 'loud thunder sounds' in Fiji more than 500 miles away, officials in Suva said.
Authorities in Fiji also issued a warning, telling people to avoid the shoreline due to strong currents and dangerous waves. Fijian officials also warned residents to cover water collection tanks in case of acidic rain fall. Victorina Kioa of the Tonga Public Service Commission said Friday 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.'
A tsunami has struck Tonga sending terrified locals fleeing for high ground as huge waves crashed over roads and into homes (pictured, tsunami waves begin to overwhelm coastal homes in Tonga on Saturday)
Locals took to social media to share dramatic videos of the surging waves making land and crashing through homes and cars (pictured, still images from video filmed in Tonga and posted to social media on Saturday)
The Islands Business news site reported that a convoy of police and military troops evacuated Tonga's King Tupou VI from his palace near the shore as residents headed for higher ground.
The explosion of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano was the latest in a series of spectacular eruptions.
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,' Taufa 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.'
A Twitter user identified as Dr Faka'iloatonga Taumoefolau posted video showing waves crashing ashore.
This picture taken on December 21, 2021 shows white gaseous clouds rising from the Hunga Ha'apai eruption seen from the Patangata coastline near Tongan capital Nuku'alofa'Can literally hear the volcano eruption, sounds pretty violent,' he wrote, adding in a later post: 'Raining ash and tiny pebbles, darkness blanketing the sky.'
Earlier, the Matangi Tonga news site reported that scientists had observed massive explosions, thunder and lightning near the volcano after it started erupting Friday.
The site said satellite images showed a three-mile-wide plume of ash, steam and gas rising about 12 miles into the air.
More than 1,400 miles away in New Zealand, officials warned of storm surges from the eruption.
The National Emergency Management Agency said some parts could expect 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a large volcanic eruption'.
Late on Saturday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the threat to American Samoa appeared to have passed, although minor sea fluctuations could continue.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano sits on an uninhabited island about 40 miles north of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.
In late 2014 and early 2015, a series of eruptions in the area created a small island and disrupted international air travel to the Pacific archipelago for several days.
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