Tonga Covered in Volcanic Ash... After Underwater Volcano Eruption, Devastation Unfolds One After Another

A satellite captured an image on the 18th (local time) showing houses and various buildings in the South Pacific island nation of Tonga covered entirely in ash due to an underwater volcanic eruption. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The devastation in Tonga, an island nation in the South Pacific where a massive underwater volcano erupted on the 15th (local time), is gradually coming to light.

According to major foreign media, Peter Lund, Acting High Commissioner, reported that there have been three deaths due to the tsunami, but "this has not yet been confirmed." So far, the only identified fatality is a British woman, Angela Glover. She lost her life trying to save dogs at an animal shelter swept away by the tsunami waves.

Lund, the Acting High Commissioner, stated that while some damage occurred in Tonga’s capital Nuku?alofa, the western coastal area of Tongatapu Island suffered greater damage. Satellite images released by the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), a UN satellite image analysis agency, show that although some buildings on Tongatapu, the largest island, and surrounding areas remain standing, there are also buildings and facilities that appear to have collapsed.

In the photos, the entire land is covered with dark gray volcanic ash, making the whole island look like a black-and-white photograph.

According to damage assessment data for the village of Nomuka on Ha?apai Island released by UNOSAT, out of the 56 km² of island area analyzed by the agency, 138 buildings are no longer visible, 41 buildings remain damaged, and 63 buildings are covered in ash.