An underwater volcano near Tonga has spewed for the third time in four days, endangering the ability of surveillance flights to assess the damage to the Pacific island nation following Saturday’s massive eruption and tsunami.
The most recent eruption began in December 2021, with gas, steam, and ash plumes rising about 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) into the air.
The volcano erupted again on January 14 and a massive eruption on January 15 sent shockwaves around the world and triggered tsunami waves across the Pacific.
The eruption also sent waves to the US West Coast, with some exceeding 3 and 4 feet in height, according to the National Weather Service office in San Diego. Tsunami waves were felt in California, Alaska, and Hawaii.
According to experts, Saturday’s eruption was likely the biggest recorded anywhere on the planet in more than 30 years.
No mass casualties have yet been reported, but aid organizations are concerned about contaminated air and access to clean water for people in Tonga’s outlying islands.
With communications down, Australia and New Zealand sent flights to survey the damage.
Tonga “needs immediate assistance to provide its citizens with fresh drinking water and food,” the country’s Speaker of the House Lord Fakafanua said in a statement posted to social media.
