All Tongan civil servants were instructed to go home this afternoon as Government offices closed at 1:30pm, due to the tsunami warning in force. Authorities stressed that there is no need for any evacuation but people are advised to keep away from beaches and low lying coastlines in Tonga today, while increased activity at the Hunga volcano is monitored.

Tonga Meteorological Services at 2:16pm this afternoon advised that the Marine Tsunami Warning for Tonga coastlines remains in force. 

"There is no need for any evacuation but people are asked to keep away from beaches and low lying coastlines, avoid going for a swim or fishing."

The volcanic eruption this morning and its ongoing eruption at the moment has led to the generation of small tsunami waves, which was recorded in the Nuku'alofa tide gauge reading below as evidence of a small tsunami wave of up to 30 centimetres (cm) or 0.3 meters or equivalent of 1 feet (the size of a class 6 school ruler), reported Tonga Meteorological Services.

In their tidal gauge chart the red lines indicated the normal sea level tide and the black line indicated the fluctuation of the sea level indicating the small tsunami wave generated.

Tonga MET Office is currently monitoring tide gauges to analyse the fluctuation of the sea level. 

Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission instructed its civil servants to go home or find safety, except those few allocated essential staff instructed by CEOS to remain at their post.

“CEOs are responsible for the execution of their individual tsunami evactiation plans in any such event to ensure staff’s safety.”