Maxar’s satellite imagery shows the aftermath of the large eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano as well as the damage caused by the tsunami in the nearby Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa. Maxar imagery clearly shows that most of the volcanic island that used to be above water was destroyed by the eruption; and, volcanic debris can be seen floating in the ocean.
Nearby, ash from the volcano covers many of the homes and buildings across Tonga while damage from the tsunami is evident near the main port facilities in Nuku’alofa. The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano on Saturday, 15 January 2022 has left thousands people without homes, supplies and internet. On Tuesday 18 January, the Tongan government confirmed the eruption had resulted in three deaths, two of which were local people, and one British national.
Shockwaves as far as Alaska and the UK were experienced from the volcanic explosion, and a tsunami was created that were experienced in the shores of Australia, the U.S. and Russia including nearly 400,000 lightning events hours after the explosion on Saturday.