Tonga Volcanos

This year, cold temperatures and frigid weather are not the only issues you should be concerned about. In addition to the mounting threats of Covid-19, climate change, and inter-country hostilities, a natural calamity looms nearer to our coastline. As expectations for a tranquil end to this grueling winter grow, tsunami waves in the deep blue Pacific Ocean begin to rumble. The Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located near the Tonga Islands erupted on Saturday, January 15th, sending massive waves around the world and triggering emergency measures from Japan to California. The volcano is located in the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire'', which holds some of the world's most active volcanoes. Its eruption sent out an atmospheric shock wave that radiated out, “at close to the speed of sound”, The Reuters News Agency Company (RNAC for short) states while writing on this matter.

The waves generated by the undersea Tonga volcano, when propelled by torrential winds, pose a serious threat to shores along the Pacific as they can flood marines, change landscapes, and damage property. If billows of water reach land, dangerous chemicals can be swept out to sea and kill off aquatic life. People living near shorelines (specifically near the Pacific Ocean), are the most susceptible to the impacts of this eruption. Even so, those far away from the site can still be affected. A recent tsunami has cut off Tonga’s main island from the rest of the world and is hampering relief efforts. In addition to this, clouds of ash from the eruption have reached up to 63,900 ft and are hovering over Tonga, obstructing surveillance flights and the delivery of commodities. While this may seem trivial, thousands of people will be stranded with little supplies, and if this were to happen to larger countries, such as Japan, the consequences could be much more catastrophic. Due to globalization, many of the supplies we use in our everyday lives could disappear for a short time. Unfortunately, there is little we can do as individuals to help Tonga, but as a collective, we could make a difference. One step is to tell others to take precautions. If you have relatives or friends living near the Pacific be sure to warn them of the dangers of these disasters, because these cataclysmic catastrophes can be way closer than you think.