Volcanic eruption ends, leaving tiny ash island [1]
Monday, January 26, 2015 - 23:03. Updated on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 - 11:42.
Photos courtesy Tonga Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
The volcanic eruption between the islands of Hunga-Ha’apai and Hunga-Tonga appears to be over, leaving behind a tiny island of volcanic ash.
The new island is joined with Hunga Ha’apai (0.65 square km) to the west and is only 150 – 200 meters short of Hunga Tonga (0.39 square km) in the north.
The new island is about 120m high, 1.5km wide (NS) and 2.0 km long (WE). It is estimated to be over 1 km in diameter with the crater diameter estimated at between 400 – 500 metres.
The National Advisory Center of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, reported today that an attempt to land on the island on January 24 was prevented by swells. The VOEA Neiafu took took a third expedition to the area, sponsored by the New Zealand High Commission.
The new island was formed by an eruption that continued from mid-December until it died down last week.
“There were no signs of any emissions of ash, gas, or steam observed coming out from the vent of the new-formed island,” the Ministry reported.
The island is now technically a part of Hunga-Ha’apai. However, not for long as suggested by some experts. According to New Zealand volcanologists , the island will easily erode as it is made up primarily of ash and not solidified lava.