Results for Hunga Ha'apai

Sulphur dioxide emitted from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano continues to spread over the Ha'apai, Vava'u and Niuatoutapu groups drifting NNE at a high altitude of 8-14km. Tonga Geological Services said S02 measured highest near the ‘Otumu‘omu‘a Group. However, the steam cloud formation from the eruption has reduced significantly from yesterday.

Stunning landscapes around Tonga’s newest volcanic island have attracted sightseers and adventurers. Photos by GP Orbassano.

A geological survey of the volcanic activity between Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai over the weekend found that while ash eruptions are continuing, the activity appears to be less than in previous days and a lot less than in previous weeks.

Tonga's Fua'amotu International Airport was expected to process a record number of passengers today as International and domestic flights have resumed, following disruption to flights caused by rising ash from a continuing volcanic eruption in Hunga Ha‘apai to the north west of Nuku'alofa.

All international flights in and out of Tonga were cancelled starting yesterday Monday, 12 January due to rising ash coming from the volcanic activity, which is continuing from a sumbmarine vent close to Hunga Ha’apai to the north west of Tonga that has spread over hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere above the Tongatapu region. .

Only a week after the massive eruption on Hunga Ha'apai on March 17-21, 2009, a group of four adventurers including a cameraman and an Italian golfer landed on the newly formed peninsula on the island and climbed up to the fragile rim of its volcanic crater, where there is a steaming sulphuric orange lake. But a volcanologist is now warning that the volcano remains extremely dangerous. Photos by GP Orbassano.