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Tonga is an island in the South Pacific. On 15th January 2022 a volcano erupted off the coast. Shortly after a tidal wave struck the island and all electronic communication ceased.
Tonga is an island in the South Pacific. On 15th January 2022 a volcano erupted off the coast. Shortly after a tidal wave struck the island and all electronic communication ceased.


At time of writing (17th January 2022) satellite imagery is impossible due to a dense ash cloud. Reportedly[https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/459667/tonga-eruption-nz-air-force-plane-leaves-for-reconnaissance-flight-to-assess-damage] the Royal New Zealand Air Force is sending a reconnaissance flight to assess the degree of damage.
At time of writing (17th January 2022) satellite imagery is impossible due to a dense ash cloud. Reportedly[https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/459667/tonga-eruption-nz-air-force-plane-leaves-for-reconnaissance-flight-to-assess-damage] the Royal New Zealand Air Force is sending a reconnaissance flight to assess the degree of damage. This was unsuccessful due to the ash cloud and returned to New Zealand.


Satellite view of the [[:Media:Tonga-thunder.webp|volcanic thunderstorm]] at the time of the eruption.
Satellite view of the [[:Media:Tonga-thunder.webp|volcanic thunderstorm]] at the time of the eruption.
At 11.20pm on 18th January three ships could be [https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-175.0/centery:-21.2/zoom:8 observed] approaching Tonga, the first to purposefully visit after the disaster. (The first ship to pass by was the freighter [[Pacific Islander II]], which rerouted to [[Suva]])
[[File:Tonga-boats.jpeg|250px|Help on its way]]