This week, I am bringing attention to the recent underwater volcanic eruption off the coast of Tonga. On January 14, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted suddenly and loudly, causing a tsunami that impacted Tonga—and coastlines around the world.

Why am I discussing this? Back in 2015, I visited nearby island country, Niue, while on a year-long working holiday visa in New Zealand. In Niue, I met the Tongia family who are originally from Tonga. They gave me one of my most cherished memories from my long-term trip around the world.

In this post, I reflect on my time with the Tongia family and how easy it is for us to forget how connected we all are on this fragile rock we call Earth.

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Meeting A Tongan Family In Niue

Me standing in a tidal pool at Talava Arch in Niue

Back in September 2015, I traveled with my then boyfriend Jono to the island country of Niue for a week vacation. When people ask me what my favorite place to visit was in all my travels, my answer is always Niue. While it is one of the most beautiful countries to visit, the experience that topped it off for me was meeting Palemia and his family.

Palemia and his wife Louna are originally from Tonga and came to Niue by way of New Zealand. They were impressed with Jono’s spearfishing skills and that got us talking. He invited us to have a very unique experience—planting timala at midnight in the back high country of Niue.

The next day, Jono went spearfishing with Palemia’s friend, Shane, another Tongan.

During that time, I explored Ana Aitu weaving cave with his daughter Mele. She told me that Niuean women would gather here to weave baskets and other items since the cool cave temperatures helped keep the pandanus fibres soft for weaving. Niueans to this day are known for their fine weaving craft.

Mele and me standing in Ana Aitu, a weaving cave, in Niue

In the evening, I helped Louna prepare some timala to go with a hearty dinner she cooked, including the fish Jono caught. After we were full, we chatted with them for a while about life in Niue, farming, his family, Tonga, and much more.

I decided right then that I wanted to visit Tonga one day. I vowed to visit the next time I returned to the South Pacific.

When I heard about the eruption, my mind immediately went to Palemia and his family and his country that I still had not visited yet.

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption Impact

Two days after the eruption, steam and gas rise from the erupted volcano. Credit: Mary Lyn Fonua/AFP via Getty Images

Tonga is an archipelago of 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’api volcano sits about 40 miles North of Tonga’s capitol and largest island.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’api volcano erupted twice in the last 20 years—once in 2009 and again in 2014. This most recent eruption was different. The speed of the erupting magma caused a sudden, massive, and explosive force that resulted in an atmospheric shockwave measured as far as Europe and a sonic boom heard over 5000 miles away in Alaska.

The explosion dwarfs even the biggest human-made nuclear explosion.

A meteotsunami (a tsunami caused by the eruption’s displacement of air in the atmosphere) resulted in up to 50-foot waves and surge. Waves reached as far as the shores of Peru where there were two deaths, a massive oil spill, and coastal devastation.

Here is a video of the impact around the world

Geoscientists are excitedly discussing this eruption saying the force and size of the explosion has something to do with the interaction between magma and ocean water.

Researchers will be studying the eruption for years to come to understand exactly what caused such a huge explosion.

The volcanic island now gone. Two separate land masses remain.

The Aftermath In Tonga

Although felt around the world, Tonga is dealing with the biggest effects of the eruption. The resulting 18-mile-high plume of ash rained down from the sky over previously green vegetation and colorful homes across Tonga. The ash and ocean water is contaminating Tonga’s water supply.

You can see in the photo comparisons below the before and after effect of the ash fall. Some are calling the once-colorful Tonga a “grey moonscape.” This will devastate tourism and other parts of Tonga’s visitor economy.

The eruption severed the one major underwater internet and communication line to the country. Many Tongans still cannot reach their families who are primarily spread around the South Pacific in countries like New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Niue. Some New Zealand sources estimate that by 2 weeks after the eruption the line will be restored.

Before communications were lost, the tsunami waves flooded coastlines and caused significant coastal erosion around Tonga. New Zealand Defense Force images show that the single village of 36 inhabitants on Mango Island was completely destroyed. All 20 or so buildings are gone.

On other islands, resorts are completely submerged, coastal homes are gone, and debris covers the land. The country reported 3 deaths so far and still hasn’t heard from some of its outermost islands.

Runways are inaccessible due to the ash and debris so they can’t receive aid by plane. Another challenge to sending aid is COVID-19. Tonga has only had 1 case of COVID-19 in these last 2 years of the pandemic. They are wary about introducing more virus by receiving aid workers to their shores. Aid arrived by ship from New Zealand about 4 or 5 days after the eruption.

How Are Our Friends In Niue?

So how is nearby Niue doing just 375 miles away from the explosion?

Strangely, little Niue heard, felt, and could see the eruption but tsunami waves did not impact their shores.

I reached out to Mele (Palemia’s daughter) on Facebook to check on everyone. She said her parents and family are all doing fine.

I got to catch up with Mele a little bit. She is now living in Dunedin, New Zealand for school. Good luck to her! I told her I hope to visit New Zealand, Niue, and Tonga soon!

Reflections

We don’t often pay attention to what happens on tiny islands, with populations just over 100,000 people, on the opposite side of the world.

We don’t pay attention because there’s too much else to worry about immediately in our own lives and backyards.

We forget that people on the other side of the world will and could be us one day. But we can take this as a wakeup call when an eruption is felt and damage is done thousands of miles from the source. This Earth we live on is incredibly fragile and incredibly connected.

We must not forget that what happens to “them” over there is happening to us.

If we didn’t learn this already from the COVID-19 pandemic, let the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption be yet another reminder.

Donate to Friends of Tonga

If you can, consider making a tax-deductible donation to Friends of Tonga. I vetted this organization. It is a USA-based 501c(3) that works directly with communities in Tonga. Their mission is as follows:

Friends of Tonga is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization that seeks to connect all people with a vested interest in the welfare of the Tongan people and to partner with local Tongan organizations to support, enhance, and amplify educational initiatives, and opportunities in the Kingdom of Tonga.

As an educator I especially like their mission since they have a specialized focus on educational initiatives. In the aftermath of the eruption, however, Friends of Tonga is working to identify “reputable organizations to partner with to help Tongan communities impacted”…recognizing that “…organizations on the ground will be able to determine the best way to direct these funds.”

If you are outside the USA, you can find other vetted avenues for donating at prayfortonga.org.

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