On January 14, after the eruption of a submarine volcano on The island of Hon Aha Apai, about 65 kilometers north of The Tonga capital Nuku'alofa, triggered a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, several countries in the Pacific issued a tsunami warning.
At 5:10 p.m. local time in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga, the Pacific submarine volcano "violently" erupted, and Tonga locals said that a huge sound erupted when the volcano erupted, like a "bomb explosion". This submarine volcanic eruption is so intense that it can be seen from space. Volcanic eruptions triggered tsunamis. About 20 minutes later, a huge tsunami wave hit the coast, flooding Tonga's houses, buildings, fences, roads and cars, and people flocking to higher ground.
According to the Archipelago Business News website, "a convoy of police and troops rescued King Tupou VI of Tonga from his palace near the coast and then headed to the Highlands." ”
The National Weather Service issued an emergency announcement on Saturday morning (Jan. 15) saying the tsunami was expected to create strong currents that could pose a danger to swimmers, boats and coastal buildings. "The tsunami is expected to produce strong currents that could pose a danger to swimmers, boats and coastal structures." "If you are in this coastal area, stay away from the beach, away from the port and the marina. Don't go to the coast to watch the tsunami. Pay attention to local emergency instructions. ”
The initial tsunami hit Los Angeles at 7:45 a.m. PST and San Francisco at 8:10 a.m. In Santa Cruz, the video showed flooding near the port, with at least one car flooded. Waves of up to 4.1 feet were recorded in the Port of St. Louis; in El Segundo, some surfers ignored warnings and rode the wind into the sea.
The tsunami warning in Hawaii, which was canceled shortly after 8 a.m. local time, swept through the area and only caused damage to some of the ships docked at the docks, and there have been no reports of casualties on those islands.
The Australian Meteorological Agency tweeted: "A 1.2-metre-high tsunami wave has been observed in Nuku'alofa." The largest tsunami wave recorded after an explosion in the area on Friday (January 14) was 30 centimeters.
Satellites in space recorded the eruption of the submarine volcano--- which looked like a massive nuclear explosion. 3 miles wide volcanic ash and steam rise like mushrooms from the blue Pacific Ocean and rise to 12 miles into the air.
Mere Taufa, a local tonga resident, said she was preparing dinner at home when the volcano erupted when suddenly the ground was shaking, the earthquake was so big that our house was shaking. It appears in the form of waves. My brother thought there was a bomb exploding nearby. She said that after a few minutes the water filled their home, and she saw the walls of the house next door collapse, "We knew right away that it was a tsunami." "Screams can be heard everywhere, people screaming, and everyone wants to flee to higher places."
A Twitter user named Faka'iloatonga Taumoefolau posted a video showing waves lapping against the coast, writing in a later post: "I could really hear the sound of a volcanic eruption, it sounded very violent." He also wrote: "Volcanic ash and small pebbles have fallen, and darkness has enveloped the sky."
In late 2014 and early 2015, a series of volcanic eruptions in the area formed a small island that disrupted international air travel to the Pacific archipelago for days.