Editor,

Not too many people are aware of the gigantic volcanic ridge that separates the Kingdom of Tonga and the Fijian Islands, and the fact that this same ridge extends in a north-south direction from the southern most island of Tonga, `Ata, through Kao and Tofua Islands in the Ha`apai Group, to Fonualei in the Vava`u Group, and also Tafahi and Niuafo`ou in the extreme north, and even all the way to the Samoas.

The volcanic activities in this ridge are so proactive that the bottom of the earth keeps rumbling and moving everyday. It may even be the most active volcanic ridge in the world.

During the 11 years 1995 ...– 2005, there have been a total of almost 8,100 earthquakes in the geographic grid that extends from Latitude 15 to 25 South, and Longitude 170 to 180 West. This is the area that extends from the Kingdom of Tonga to the Fiji Islands.

The total number of earthquakes during the 6 years 1995 ...– 2000 was 3,853 for an annual average of 642.1. From 2001-2005, there was a total of 4,235 for an average of 847 earthquakes per year. In other words in the last five years, the number of earthquakes in the geographic grid where the kingdom of Tonga is, has increased by 32%. The year 2004 had a total of 1,216 earthquakes, being the highest in last 25 years.

It should also be noted that the total number of earthquakes for the last few years keeps going up, and that has been the trend for the last twenty years. In 2001 there were 605 earthquakes, in 2002 it went up to 735, in 2003 to 799, and in 2004 it skyrocketed to 1,216, and last year to 880. For the first six months of 2006, there have been a total of 807 earthquakes, with May registering a record number of 252 earthquakes during the month. In this rate the total number of earthquakes for 2006 may even surpass 2004.

Of the earthquakes in 2004, 20 of them registered over 5.5 magnitudes in the Richter scale and the highest was July 15th which had a 7.10 magnitude. The 2006 year has been most turbulent, because out of the total of 807 earthquakes in the first 6 months of the year, 24 of these earthquakes have been over 5.5 magnitudes and the highest was on May 3rd registering at 7.9. In the beginning of the year on Jan 2nd, there was one at 7.2 magnitudes. The day with the most earthquakes registered was May 4th, 2006 when there were 36, ranging from 4.2 to 6.00.

What is really happening beneath Tonga along the volcanic ridge? With the rate of increasing volcanic activities in the last few years and what just happened in May 2006 may mean that we are approaching in the Tongan Group some voluminous natural catastrophe that we are not really aware of? Should we ease off the current political and economic controversy, and seriously look into what is happening along the volcanic ridge? Perhaps the ancient Polynesian God Maui of the Underworld is showing some apathy to the treatments given to the earthly representative of his fellow Godhead in the Heavens, Tangaloa?

Well, this is some food for thoughts!

Ofa-ki-Tonga

ofakitonga [at] comcast [dot] net