WATCH: Mesmerising satellite images show Tonga undersea volcanic eruption

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, January 15

Satellite images of the Tonga undersea volcanic eruption that have flooded social media since it struck on Saturday evening are mesmerising and terrifying in equal measure.

Tonga volcano eruption triggers evacuation advisories, metre-high waves in Japan

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 sonic boom could be heard as far away as Alaska.

The event triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, from the coast of the United States to Japan. Though the tsunami threat began to recede by Sunday, the extent of damage caused to the archipelago of Tonga is still unclear.

New Zealand said it was watching the situation closely. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand was unable to send a surveillance flight over Tonga on Sunday because the ash cloud was 63,000 feet (19,000 metres) high but promised to try again on Monday.

The power of mother nature is unbelievable. My thoughts are with all those affected. KEEP SAFE!#TongaVolcano #Tongaeruption #tongatsunami pic.twitter.com/ZHC6QNzAfl

— Jaime Henrique (@JaiHenriq) January 15, 2022

View from NZ High Commission in #Tonga where people ran for shelter (it’s on a hill). Waves submerged the main road & Patangata, the poorest community on the island, totally flooded… most are struggling families from outer islands. Where will the go? #tongatsunami #TongaVolcano pic.twitter.com/9zZRW4d3UB

— Josephine Latu-Sanft (@JoLatuSanft) January 15, 2022

6,000 miles away a volcano caused this 😳 #Tsunami #TsunamiAdvisory #TsunamiWarning #HungaTonga #tongatsunami #California #SantaCruz pic.twitter.com/04w1gPtGgW

— lord fauci - patron saint of wuhan (@BigBadCrabCake) January 15, 2022

That's... terrifying. #tongatsunami pic.twitter.com/DvfXKyNlD7

— Dougal Wallace (@DougalWallace) January 15, 2022

West Coast Tsunami + A LARGE WHIRLWIND In The Sea (WATCH) #Tongaeruption #tongatsunamivolkano #Tonga #WestCoast #tongatsunami #Tongaeruption pic.twitter.com/YhrNd59Opr

— Dave Techz (@techz_dave) January 15, 2022

Tsunami waves crash ashore in #Tonga after volcanic eruption#TongaVolcano #TongaTsunami
Quelle: https://t.co/seN7Xccxj7 pic.twitter.com/d7n46cSGT5

— Oliver (@OB_Bln) January 15, 2022

Fishermen came face to face with the #tsunami caused by the #eruption of the #Tonga #underwater #volcano.
A slight swell phenomenon was observed on the entire west coast of South America
Please #evacuate to higher ground ASAP". #Oceania #warning #violent #tongatsunami #Peru pic.twitter.com/2anxzuuwgT

— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) January 16, 2022

#tongatsunami #santacruz #santacruztsunami video taken by Dori Vance from the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, CA pic.twitter.com/QXhgudgG5e

— #MedicareForAll (@AlanWilsonWatts) January 15, 2022

Footage of the #tsunami reaching #Peru. #TongaHunga #tongatsunami pic.twitter.com/Oc3Yr0oqHv

— Tan (@tangandhara) January 15, 2022

Longwave infrared channel via #GOESWest of the #Tonga eruption.. one of the most incredible satellite animations I've ever seen. The relative warmth of the ash cloud atop the very cold tropospheric convective anvil. Waves upon waves. Simply incredible. pic.twitter.com/MoBcIxkblW

— William Churchill (@ChurchillWx) January 15, 2022

What I find mind blowing is that we can see this so easily from space, from Geostationary orbit without zooming in at all it's super obvious.
(Left is Himawari 8, Right is GOES West) pic.twitter.com/q0FRzprAY9

— Scott Manley (@DJSnM) January 15, 2022

About The Author

Tribune Web Desk

The Tribune Web Desk brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune Wed Desk for not just breaking news stories but wide-ranging coverage of events.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#pacific #satelliteimages #Tonga #Tsunami #underseavolcano #videos #volcanoeruption