Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai is a submarine volcano in the South Pacific's Kermadec-Tonga Ridge, which is produced by the convergent boundary where the Pacific Plate is subducted by the Indo-Australian Plate, resulting in a lengthy volcanic and island chain.
A massive eruption precipitated by the Hunga Tonga Volcano on January 15th has led to a series of intense explosions, leaving Tonga communities covered in ashes and at a loss of hope. Spewing at an approximate altitude of 50 kilometres, the ashes from the eruption later swept to more than 3000 kilometres west of Australia – shock waves, sonic booms, and tsunami waves even being heard as far away as Alaska.
At least three people have died in addition to the thousands more fighting against the lingering debris from the eruption. The undersea fibre-optic connection that connects Tonga to the rest of the globe was severed by the volcano's explosion nearly cutting all communications on the island. Twenty-one beaches in Peru were affected by the oil spill that led the Peruvian Navy to conduct several clean-up campaigns.
The question remains: what should one do in a situation to mitigate the consequences of situations like this? Keep up with the latest updates and be aware of your surroundings, prepare the necessary goods you will be needing (e.g. canned goods, water, flashlights), and stay away from hanging wires and unstable structures. Remember, less is more.
Article developed by: Leigh Sindac and Regina Castor
References
National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. (2022). The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Eruption, a Multi-Hazard Event. NESDIS. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/the-hunga-tonga-hunga-haapai-eruption-multi-hazard-event
Klein, A. (2022, January 19). Volcano eruption in Tonga was a once-in-a-millennium event. New Scientist. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304822-volcano-eruption-in-tonga-was-a-once-in-a-millennium-event/
USA Today. (2022, January 28). Oil spill pollutes 21 beaches in Peru after eruption in Tonga causes tsunami. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://eu.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/world/2022/01/22/peru-beaches-devastated-oil-spill-linked-tonga-volcanic-explosion/6623309001/
Miller, M. E. (2022, January 19). 'major disaster': Tonga faces weeks cut off as volcanic activity imperils operation to repair fiber-optic cable. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/19/tonga-volcano-eruption-cable-damage/
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