[Tsunami-hit Tonga remained largely
uncontactable on Sunday with telephone and
internet links severed,
leaving relatives in faraway
New Zealand praying for their families
on the Pacific islands as casualty
reports had yet to come through.
The massive ash cloud covering
the tiny island nation of Tonga is
preventing surveillance flights from
New Zealand to assess the extent of damage.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
said the eruption was 'hugely concerning'
and agencies were still trying to establish
full communications with Tonga.
One complicating factor
to any international aid effort is that
Tonga has so far managed to
avoid any outbreaks of Covid-19.
Ms Ardern said New Zealand's
military staff were all fully vaccinated
and willing to follow any protocols
established by Tonga.
The immediate concern in Tonga is for
air and water safety due to ash and smoke.
The government has asked the public
to wear masks and use bottled water for now.
Tsunami advisories were
issued for Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. Pacific coast.
Hundreds of thousands of Japanese citizens
were also advised to evacuate as waves
of more than a metre hit coastal areas.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the
eruption caused the equivalent of
magnitude 5.8 earthquake.
Scientists said tsunamis generated by
volcanoes rather than earthquakes
are relatively rare.
The powerful waves registered in Japan,
New Zealand and Australia,
with
a thunderous roar heard 6,000 miles
away in Alaska.]
[Dramatic official aerial maps showed
the eruption cloud over Tonga after
the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcanco erupted.
Pictured: Satellite images of the volanic eruption
in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday]
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...d-interne.html
A Great Island
keeping Covid away.
No idea yet, any deaths.
