Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha'apai: latest news

Par Bernard Duyck

Hunga Ha'apai - The eruption and the new island - January 13, 2015 - photo New Zealand High Commission, Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Following a request from the Government of Tonga, New Zealand has provided support for an inspection of the new eruption. A representative of the High Commission provides us new photos, posted online this January 15, 2015 at 2:55 local.

They do not have the merit to confirm the report of volcanic activity 3 / 13.01.2015 of the Ministry of Information and Communications, at least for the location of the eruptive vent.

Hunga Ha'apai - cypressoïde plume and emission of gas/vapor - January 13, 2015 - photo New Zealand High Commission, Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Hunga Ha'apai - in this picture, it seems that the new cone is "isolated" - January 13, 2015 - photo New Zealand High Commission, Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Following Matangitonga on line,

“A new island has been built by the eruption between the existing islands of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai, and is now joined to Hunga Ha‘apai,” he stated.

The new island is more than 1 km wide, ~2km long and about 100 m high.

“During our observations the volcano was erupting about every five minutes. Dense ash was being erupted to a height of about 400 m, accompanied by some large rocks.

“Above about 1000 m, the eruption plume was almost exclusively steam. As the ash is very wet, most is being deposited close to the vent, building up the new island,” he stated.

Hazardous surges of ash and steam were seen to spread out horizontally during eruptions, and these extended more than 1 km from the erupting vent.

Ash fall and acidic rain was observed within 10 km of the eruption."

More news from their reception.

Sources :

- NewZealand foreign affairs - New Zealand High Commission Nuku'alofa, Tonga - link

- Ministry of Information & Communications Tonga - link

- Matangitonga on line - link

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