Underwater Volcano Erupts in Tonga, and Makes World News

March 16th, 2009

Officials in Tonga are heading to the site of an underwater eruption to determine what impact it will have on the Pacific nation's environment.

The underwater volcano erupted three days ago off the coast of the country's capital.

This morning a survey team is expected to arrive on site, where the eruption is happening.

It is located a day's travel by boat from Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, but the clouds of smoke, steam and ash it is sending up to 100 metres into the air, means it is clearly visible from the capital.

Kelepi Mafi from the Ministry of Lands in Tonga says the area is still unsafe.

"It's not advisable for any of the fishermen to go around in that area," he said.

The underwater eruption began on Monday after a major earth tremor.

It is still not known if it will result in a new land mass in Tonga's territory.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Tonga
• Samoa
• Polynesian
• Hamo
• Tongan
• Volcano
• Kingdom
• of
• Island
• Polynesia
• Water
• Ocean
• Tahiti
• Hawaii
• Fiji
• Fijian
• Hawaiian
• Tahitian
• Aloha
• Talofa
• Malo
• Lelei

[VRBAETIM]

When are people going to keep religion and science separate and stop bashing heads? Geesh! Be fascinated with the volcano and keep the religious clap trap to yourselves.

[shaungantzcam]

AWESOME FOOTAGE!

[TheStockwell]

@yoyohooyo What a reckless thing to say! I'm pretty sure David Attenborough made a definitive statement saying the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event was caused by dinosaurs downloading porn - and lots of it. I'm not imagining my facts - I'm making them up! Sodomy and failure to wash fruit before eating it? What an irresponsible thing to say!

[Mackandabbyrocks]

Haha we had to watch this at school and they were going closer but say turn around!

[LicketySplitAlong]

@ddacf123 "Science never leaves." The real question is who is so brainwashed or fearful, and why, that they don't look for basic scientific information in the first place regardless of faith.

[ddacf123]

@VRBAETIM man for real..

some people depend on their faith...

some people need faith..

science comes and goes but religion stays!!!

and it always will...

[valdrianth]

And the formation of a new island starts.

[offamychain]

@VRBAETIM said, "When are people going to keep religion and science separate ..... keep the religious clap trap to yourselves."

When are people going to outgrow discrimination & prejudice, and mature enough to finally learn to accept & tolerate ALL life-styles, peoples, and individual/personal beliefs & values practiced by those people? Though an optimist, my hope is low that the Hate-Crowd will ever NOT act like 10-year olds when a person states he/she has faith.

Just a sad & perpetual fact.

[josexendive1]

@yoyohooyo wtf???????????

[sw3210]

@VRBAETIM amen!

[DeadlyInertia]

@Franky200911 We English people don't know how to speak Chinese, oh your probably 6.

[tetisweed]

Looks like really huge TNT explosion,