A large volcanic eruption is taking place near Tongas capitals Nukualofa, sending ash and steam into the sky. It is the same volcano which erupted out of the Pacific Ocean, 63 kilometres north of Nukualofa in 2009, creating an island. New Zealands Metservice has yet to issue any aviation warning in the region, despite the large plume of ash. Known as the Hunga Haapai volcano, Matangi Tonga says it may have been erupting for more than a week. The eruption was first reported by a fisherman who came back from the area on December 19, according to the Deputy Secretary of Lands and Natural Resources, Taniela Kula. Authorities did not issue an alert at the time and were waiting for visual confirmation. It first started erupting violently in March 2009. People at the time were told not to go near it. The volcano sits on the edge of the Tonga/Kermadec Trench with runs from Samoa through Tonga and down the New Zealand east coast. hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/site/index.php?pageid=event_desc&edis_id=VE-20141230-46494-TON
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 09:35:57 +0000
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