tsunami
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — The Kingdom of Tonga doesn’t often attract global attention, but a violent eruption of an underwater volcano on January 15 has spread shock waves, quite literally, around half the world.
The volcano is usually not much to look at. It consists of two small uninhabited islands...
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND — The Tongan government has confirmed that all houses on the island of Mango were wiped out in the tsunami that followed Saturday's volcanic eruption.
It also confirmed that three people are now known to have died: a 65-year-old woman in Mango and a 49-year-old man in Nomuka...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — While members of the Tongan community in American Samoa are urging their families and friends around the world to keep the people of Tonga in their prayers after the volcano and the tsunami that affected the islands last Friday (Saturday in Tonga), locals are also...
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND — There is significant damage to the western coast of Tonga's main island of Tongatapu.
The New Zealand High Commission says the damage is centered along the western coast, where there are many resorts, and the waterfront of the capital, Nuku'alofa.
A thick layer of ash...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The volcano that erupted in Tonga and caused rumbling sounds, and coastal inundation in American Samoa overnight continues to remain active. The National Weather Service Pago Pago is advising Am Samoa residents who live along the coasts, please be cautious near...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Territorial authorities have issued an all clear bulletin for American Samoa following a tsunami warning early today, as a result of an earthquake near New Zealand.
The American Samoa Homeland Security Department (ASDHS) issued the all clear at 11:30a.m. local time.
The...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During a tsunami warning you should move to higher ground or inland before it’s too late, “once you feel the ground moving get your family and move to a safe place.” This was the response from the Director of the Department of Homeland Security Samana Semo Ve've'a when...

![A massive underwater volcano lies next to the Hunga-Ha’apai and Hunga-Tonga islands. It violently erupted on Jan. 15, producing a tsunami throughout Tonga and neighboring Fiji and Samoa. The eruption is said to be from a hidden “caldera” located 150m below the waves. Larger version of this photo at end of story. [courtesy of the author — Shane Cronin for The Conversation ] Tonga's Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/hunga_volcanoweb.jpg?itok=lROk4wgB)
![A view over Nomuka in Tonga from a New Zealand Defence Force P-3K2 Orion surveillance flight after the islands were hit by a tsunami triggered by an undersea volcanic eruption. [photo: Supplied / NZ Defence Force] A view over Nomuka in Tonga](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/eight_col_tonga2web.jpg?itok=lrGsVoft)
![A woman posted on her Facebook page, “aumaga ‘sirens’ led people to safety vs a multi-million dollar siren system that did nothing.” Luckily the deadly tsunami of 2009 was still fresh enough in memory for people to heed the makeshift warnings and make their way to safety. [SN file photo] Siren being installed](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/siren_system.jpg?itok=dY-tZWiI)
![Progression of volcano development as seen from space. [screenshot from Facebook] progression of Tonga volcano](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/images_from_space_of_volcano.jpeg?itok=9aS_IP9r)

![The ASDHS bulletin also says that Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga authorized ASDHS to issue an “all clear” status for American Samoa. [SN file photo] AS Homeland Security logo](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/homeland_security_12.png?itok=B9LEDkig)
![Samana said he’s concerned for the safety of our people when it comes to a local earthquake occurring while the island sleeping. He said whether the sirens are on or not, that’s not enough time to prepare everyone for a locally generated tsunami. [SN file photo] Director of the Department of Homeland Security Samana Semo Ve've'a](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samana_5550_2.jpg?itok=0iTjj-N6)