First images of Tonga volcano damage show entire communities covered in thick ash
Source: CNN
By Rhea Mogul, Eric Cheung, Akanksha Sharma and Teele Rebane
(CNN)A thick layer of ash covering entire island communities can be seen in the first images of disaster-hit Tonga to emerge following what experts believe to be the world's biggest volcanic eruption in more than 30 years.
Aerial photos released by the New Zealand Defense Force from Tonga's central Ha'apai islands show trees, homes and fields coated in gray ash -- spewed out by the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai undersea volcano as it erupted on Saturday, sending tsunami waves crashing across the Pacific.
Satellite images show a similar scene in the capital's Kolofo'ou district, on Tonga's main island, with trees and homes completely blanketed by volcanic debris. Some buildings appear to have collapsed and aid workers are now concerned about water contamination and food security in the district.
Snip: Alexander Matheou, director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said that in addition to the ash, there is "large-scale coastal damage as a result of the tsunami wave."
BEFORE AND AFTER: Satellite images of the main port in Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa, show the impact of the huge volcanic eruption and tsunami.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/18/asia/tonga-volcano-tsunami-damage-intl-hnk/index.html
flying_wahini
(6,600 posts)You would Never get rid of it.
Mysterian
(4,587 posts)I have a long-hair dog.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)All that remains are two satellite islands to the east and west. Also, the explosion was heard as far east as Kailua Kona, HI
AllaN01Bear
(18,242 posts)i cant do anything for them except pray. that is all i can do.
mn9driver
(4,426 posts)Most of the affected structures were never designed to carry that load and they are either heavily damaged or collapsed. I hope they can get aid into the islands quickly. Their airports are probably unusable right now.
OnlinePoker
(5,720 posts)So far, in the pandemic, Tonga has had only one case.
Yandex
(273 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,649 posts)Side by side.
Yandex
(273 posts)calimary
(81,289 posts)Mother Nature always has the last, and loudest word.
Kinda humbling when you think about it.
VGNonly
(7,495 posts)sits at about 20'. That island is the one that is blanketed in ash. Hunga Tonga is an uninhabited volcanic island that did sit 489' high. Its new height is now undetermined, after the blast. The result of the convergence boundary of the Indian-Australian and the subductive Pacific Plates.