Remembering the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai tsunami

Summary

On January 15th, 2022, the Hunga volcano in Tonga erupted, creating a massive atmospheric pressure wave that triggered tsunamis around the world. The eruption displaced ocean water through explosions, submarine landslides, and the collapse of the underwater caldera, leading to a complex tsunami. Locally, waves struck Tonga’s western coast, with the largest surge reaching over 20 meters. Eyewitness accounts from Tongatapu’s villages highlight the effects of the event and provide crucial safety lessons for tsunami survival, emphasizing how timely actions can be life-saving during such a disaster.

Takeaways

• 🌋 The Hunga volcano erupted on January 15th, 2022, located 36 nautical miles Northwest of Tonga in the Southwest Pacific Ocean.
• 🌊 The eruption unleashed an atmospheric pressure wave, which was recorded globally and generated a far-reaching tsunami.
• 🌍 The tsunami affected distant regions, including New Zealand, Japan, California, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
• 💥 In the immediate area of the volcano, the tsunami was primarily caused by the eruption itself, including explosions, submarine landslides, and the collapse of the volcano's underwater caldera.
• 📏 The volume of the displaced ocean water was estimated to be around 7 cubic kilometers.
• 🌊 The tsunami waves hit the western coast of Tongatapu around 4:15 p.m. local time, with the largest surge occurring after 6:00 p.m. (over 20 meters).
• 🔬 The tsunami's complexity is still under scientific debate, with multiple factors contributing to its formation.
• 🎤 Interviews with eyewitnesses and survivors from the villages of Hafu and Kakapo on the Heo Peninsula helped improve understanding of the tsunami's effects.
• ⚠️ These interviews provided critical insights on what to do (and not do) in a tsunami situation, emphasizing the importance of quick and informed actions.
• 🚨 The disaster highlights the difference between life and death in tsunami situations, where every decision can be crucial for survival.

Q & A

What caused the tsunami observed in distant locations like New Zealand, Japan, California, and even Europe?

The tsunami was caused by an atmospheric pressure wave unleashed by the explosive eruption of the Hunga volcano, which traveled around the world and generated the tsunami in distant locations.

Where is the Hunga volcano located?

The Hunga volcano is located 36 nautical miles northwest of Tonga in the Southwest Pacific Ocean.

What was the primary cause of the tsunami near the volcano?

In the region close to the volcano, the tsunami was primarily generated by the eruption itself, which displaced ocean water through explosions, submarine landslides, and the collapse of the volcano's underwater caldera.

How large was the estimated volume of the underwater caldera that collapsed during the eruption?

The volume of the underwater caldera that collapsed during the eruption was estimated to be approximately 7 cubic kilometers.

When did the tsunami begin hitting the western coast of Tongatapu?

The tsunami began hitting the western coast of Tongatapu around 4:15 p.m. local time.

What was the largest surge of the tsunami observed, and when did it occur?

The largest surge of the tsunami, which reached over 20 meters, came ashore sometime after 6:00 p.m.

What role did eyewitnesses and survivors play in understanding the tsunami's effects?

Interviews with eyewitnesses and survivors from the villages of Hafu and Kakapo on the Heo Peninsula of western Tongatapu provided critical insights into the tsunami's effects, including how and when the tsunami was generated.

What valuable lessons can be learned from the survivors' accounts of the tsunami?

The survivors' accounts provide important reminders on what to do and, in some cases, what not to do in a tsunami situation, highlighting that every action could be the difference between life and death.

What was the nature of the eruption of the Hunga volcano in January 2022?

The eruption of the Hunga volcano was extraordinary, as it unleashed a massive explosive eruption that generated an atmospheric pressure wave recorded around the world.

What factors made the tsunami near the volcano particularly complex?

The tsunami near the volcano was complex due to the multiple factors involved in its generation, including explosions, submarine landslides, and the collapse of the volcano's underwater caldera. The event is still the subject of scientific debate.