Results for Natural events

Steam is continuously emitted from the vent of Home Reef volcano, indicating that volcanic activities are still ongoing at the reef, which has grown in size by up to 8 acres between June 15-30 as a result of lava flows, Tonga Geological Services reported today. The volcanic activity poses a low risk to the Vava’u and Ha’apai communities.

The Home Reef volcano has shown a slight increase in thermal anomalies to a moderate stage, Tonga Geological Services reported today, 26 June. Monitoring of the volcano is ongoing daily. The volcanic activity poses a low risk to the Vava’u and Ha’apai Communities, while a hazard warning remains in force for mariners in the area.

An ash plume drifting northeast of Home Reef around ~1:30 AM today June 21, was detected  by the HIMAWARI-9 AHI satellite, Tonga Geological Services reported this morning. The volcanic activity poses a low risk to the Vava’u and Ha’apai Communities. Mariners in the area are advised to sail beyond 4 km from Home Reef until further notice.

A volcanic hazard alert issued by Tonga Geological Services tonight, warns all mariners to sail no closer than 4km from the Home Reef Volcano, which has exhibited ongoing volcanic activity suggesting that a new batch of magma is rising in the volcano's feeder pipe. The volcanic activity poses low risk to the Vava'u and Ha'apai communities.

The Australian Pacific Support Ship, ADV Reliant is docked at Vuna Wharf today, 4 June 2024, to deliver aid containers for the Government of Australia in support of Australian disaster relief projects in Tonga.

Tongan civil defence authorities called for a major evacuation of low-lying areas in Tongatapu and Ha'apai this morning, urging people to move inland to higher ground, after a strongly shaking 6.7 magnitude earthquake was felt in Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and Vava’u at 9:47 am (TOT) today, 27 May 2024. An urgent tsunami alert issued at 9:55am local time was cancelled at 11:00am, after the tsunami threat passed. So far, there have been no reports of damage or injuries.

Sixty New Zealand soldiers working at Lifuka, Ha’apai, were joined by ten army personnel from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Japan and New Caledonia, on their annual mission to offer humanitarian aid and disaster relief to Pacific Islands countries.

Tofua volcano activity continues with an increase in the number of daily events, from 6 events to 12 events, in the latest report by Tonga Geological Services issued at 6:30 am this morning, 9 May. Fluctuations in the ground thermal levels are currently low and approaching normal thermal levels in the last 24 hours.

The aviation community was issued a Yellow ACC alert to be vigilant today while magmatic activities on Tofua volcano are continuing. There were a total of 13 events recorded over the last 24 hours, additional to the seven events in the previous report, the Tonga Geological Services, reported today, 3 May.