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Shop NowThe entire west coast of the United States along the Pacific rim and even coastal regions of South, Central America, and Canada were placed under a rare Tsunami warning on January 15th after a massive explosion ripped a South Pacific island in half. Little notice was given by most people in North and South America that an underwater volcano had erupted and shattered its tiny island ofHunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai in the Pacific Ocean near Tonga a tiny island nation far closer to Australia. But amazingly, the volcanic eruption over 9,000 miles away would send floodwaters as far as Oregon, California, Chile, Mexico, and British Columbia. Entire islands would be wiped clean along the way, distress calls and desperate pleas for help are still coming in, while some settlements in the south pacific have gone painfully silent. It is unknown if further deep-sea tremors or explosions may occur following the massive eruption.
“We don’t issue an advisory for this length of coastline as we’ve done — I’m not sure when the last time was — but it really isn’t an everyday experience,” Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, said, according to the Associated Press. “I hope that elevates the importance and severity for our citizens.”
The Massive Underwater Explosion
The explosive eruption near Tonga was utterly massive showing up on satellite surveillance, the shockwave of the blast was felt and heard over 1,000 miles away in Fiji.
Massive volcanic #eruption taking place in #Tonga several hours ago with confirmed #tsunami hitting areas in the vicinity.
Shockwave was released & heard ~500 miles in Fiji & raised air pressure briefly in New Zealand.#TongaVolcano #HungaTongaHungaHaapaipic.twitter.com/bud6CyB0Dj— MetWatch (@MetWatchUK) January 15, 2022
The shockwave circled the Earth twice, and if you’re curious about what it sounded like: check this out:
Wow this is terrifying, the type of sonic boom you hope you never hear. That is a staggering pressure spike. [NSFW language]
Hoping everyone in the vicinity of the Tonga volcanic eruption is staying safe
shared from Facebook by @WhiteHaTterz pic.twitter.com/Yb8eGNohXN
— Chris Combs (@DrChrisCombs) January 15, 2022
The shockwave which was strong enough to knock people off their feet hundreds of miles away traveled at the speed of sound around the world.
The Impact Of The Hunga Tonga Tsunami
The impact of the waves on Tonga has been extreme, the extent of the damage and loss of life is still not known as the nation is in a virtual communications blackout that could last weeks.
According to The New York Post,
“Australia’s Minister for the Pacific Zed Seselja said Saturday’s eruption at the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano and subsequent tsunami did not cause mass casualties but authorities had toured beaches and saw “significant “damage with “houses thrown around.”
“We know there is some significant damage, and know there is significant damage to resorts,” he said in an interview with an Australian radio station, adding that Tonga’s airport appeared to be in relatively good condition and that a British woman was reported missing.”
“The concern at the moment is how little information we have and that’s scary,” Janine Krippner, a New Zealand-based volcanologist with the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, told Reuters.
In California, the San Lorenzo River of Santa Cruz, briefly flowed backward due to the massive surge of seawater.
This is the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz CA flowing backwards from the tsunami. pic.twitter.com/6dGfvWFqjB
— The Tao of Babbel (@WilliamBabbel) January 17, 2022
Offshore from Ecuador in South America fishing vessels were tossed by the utterly massive waves passing through.
Possible footage of the tsunami that was trigged by the Tonga eruption off the coast of the Ecuadorian a couple of days ago.
Nature is stunning.
— Met4CastUK (@Met4CastUK) January 17, 2022
Of course, the most pronounced damage has been in Tonga itself, however, the effects were felt as far away as the Chilean coast and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
Tsunami videos out of Tonga 🇹🇴 this afternoon following the Volcano Eruption. pic.twitter.com/JTIcEdbpGe
— Jese Tuisinu (@JTuisinu) January 15, 2022
More footage #Tsunami #Tonga pic.twitter.com/ihoNxOhXVW
— cam216 (@216musicscene) January 15, 2022
On the island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, the damage is readily apparent from satellite images, the entire middle third of the island has been completely annihilated.
Dramatic changes in Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai captured by @planet from mid-Nov until this morning—only a couple of hours before the most recent eruption.#TongaVolcano #Tonga #TongaEruption pic.twitter.com/fATanmdIg8
— Dr. Tanya Harrison (@tanyaofmars) January 15, 2022
