A UN agency released satellite photographs of the volcano and its surroundings in Tonga, as the details of the damage were unknown even two days after the eruption of a large volcano near Tonga in the South Pacific. It is pointed out that there is a possibility that damage such as inundation due to the tsunami has occurred on the island where the capital is located.

On the 15th of this month, a large-scale eruption occurred at a submarine volcano about 65 km north of Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga, and a tsunami of up to about 80 cm was observed in Tonga.



However, in the field, telephone and internet communication has continued to be difficult, and even now, two days after the eruption, the details of the damage are unknown.



Under these circumstances, on the 17th, the United Nations satellite center obtained 22 satellite images of the volcano and its surroundings taken before and after the eruption, and analyzed and released the effects of the eruption from the comparison.

Of these, satellite images of the coast of Tongatapu Island, where the capital is located, show that there are traces of inundation that are thought to be caused by the tsunami from the coast to the inland about 100 meters.



He points out that the two buildings may have been damaged because the appearance of the two buildings changed before and after the eruption.

Also, in the satellite photograph of the volcano, 285 hectares of volcanic islands are visible as of the 8th of last month, but on the 16th of this month after the eruption, only the sea surface is shown in the same place, and most of the volcanic islands due to the eruption. May have disappeared.

In addition, satellite images show that volcanic ash is piled up over a wide area of ​​Tonga.



The United Nations Satellite Center will continue to investigate the situation on the ground.

Possibility of acid rain in neighboring countries

Due to the effects of a large-scale eruption at a submarine volcano near Tonga in the South Pacific, neighboring countries are wary of possible acidic rains over the next few days.

Of these, the meteorological authorities in Vanuatu, about 2000 kilometers west of Tonga, announced on the 17th that high concentrations of "sulfur dioxide", which are believed to have been released by the eruption, were observed at multiple points in the country.



On top of that, he is calling on the public to stay indoors when it rains, saying that it may rain with acidic substances dissolved in it for the next few days.



In addition, the government of Fiji, an island nation in the same South Pacific Ocean, is increasing its vigilance against acidic rain, which may have adverse effects on health and the environment, such as calling for the water storage tanks installed in each household to be covered.

Eruption observed on the 14th of the previous day

An eruption was observed on the 14th of the previous day at a volcano near Tonga in the South Pacific where a large-scale eruption occurred on the 15th of this month.



In the video of the eruption on the 14th recorded by the Geological Survey of Tonga, you can see a large amount of ejecta rising high in the sky from the crater and a lightning flash like a lightning bolt.



In addition, you can see the ejecta spreading laterally along the surface of the sea.



Also, as of the 14th, you can see that there is a volcanic island on the sea.



However, in the satellite image of the same place taken after the large-scale eruption on the 15th, which was released on Twitter by the EU-European Union agency, the volcanic island is almost invisible, and the EU agency said, "The volcanic island is almost complete. It's gone. "

Is a British woman killed by the tsunami?

British media reported on the 17th that a 50-year-old British woman living in Tonga was swept away by the tsunami and died, according to a relative of the woman.



According to it, the woman runs a group to protect stray dogs on the island of Tongatapu, where the capital of Tonga is located, and the tsunami rushed back to her home to help her dog.



The husband was saved by clinging to the tree, but the woman was washed away and after the water had drained, the husband she was looking for found the body.



The UK Foreign Ministry has commented that it is in contact with Tongan authorities.



The Instagram account, which seems to belong to a woman, posted a photo of the sunset that was taken after the eruption of a submarine volcano. "And so on.