Massive eruption of undersea volcano off Tonga knocks out communications, covers capital in ash

Relief aid is being rushed to the Pacific island nation of Tonga after an undersea volcano off the Pacific island nation erupted on January 15, 2022. The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano cut off communication links in the area, triggered large waves across the Pacific and created a huge cloud that covered Tonga’s capital city Nuku'alofa with volcanic ash. Tsunami warnings and evacuation orders were issued for Japan, several South Pacific islands and as far away as the US states of Hawaii, Alaska and along the US west coast. Some 10,000km (6,200 miles) away, in Peru, two women drowned on January 16 because of waves generated by the volcano, and Peru’s government closed 22 Pacific ports.