Huge waves hit today (Saturday) on Tongatpo Island, the main island of the Tonga Islands kingdom after an underwater volcano erupted causing a tsunami wave.
From Social Networks, NASA
Residents of the island, who received a tsunami warning just minutes before the waves arrived, fled to higher areas of the small island.
No casualties are known at this time, but according to videos uploaded to social media, extensive damage was done to buildings on the island, including in the capital Nuku'alofa.
Mary Panoa, a local journalist, told foreign media: "We had a very scary hour. We heard a huge explosion from the volcanic island that is 65 kilometers away from us, and then we saw a big white wave advancing towards the shoreline."
"After three big waves, the water reached our garden and our car was swept away by the strong current. The waves kept coming one after the other. The rising water cut off a settlement of thousands of citizens on a narrow peninsula," Panua said.
Increased volcanic activity on the nearby island has led authorities to warn islanders as early as yesterday of being prepared for an eruption, resulting in a state of readiness among citizens for the event.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us
