Volcanoes
Those spectacular sunrises and sunsets? Scientists point to Tonga volcano eruption
An unusual spike in aerosols in the stratosphere above New Zealand is the likely cause for several weeks of vibrant and spectacular sunrises and sunsets over Australia’s east coast, scientists say.
- by Amelia McGuire
Latest
How pink pumice revealed an eruption bigger than the Tongan volcano
The colour of pumice from the 2012 eruption of the Havre underwater volcano has revealed it must have erupted with huge force, possibly larger than the recent Tongan eruption.
- by Stuart Layt
The race to repair Tonga’s fibre optic lifeline
As the ash clouds clear after the devastating volcanic eruption, engineers are scrambling to repair the critical single undersea cable linking Tonga with the world.
- by Pat Sheil
COVID-19 outbreak hits Australian navy on Tonga recovery mission
There has been a COVID-19 outbreak on the navy supply ship on route to Tonga, the coronavirus-free archipelago recovering from a volcano eruption and tsunami.
- by Mike Foley
Miracle Aquaman: Tongan survives 28-hour swim after eruption, tsunami
Lisala Folau, who is disabled, was swept out to sea from the small, isolated island of Atata, but made it to the main island of Tongatapu, about eight kilometres away.
- by James Halpin
Updated
Tonga
Children among wreckage, cars seen covered as tsunami swamps Tonga
The images, showing children among the debris, ash covering cars and homes ripped to the ground, come as HMAS Adelaide docks at Brisbane before heading to the battered island with supplies.Â
- by Cloe Read and Mike Foley
Help on the way after Tongan volcano wipes out houses on outlying islands
The Tongan government reported extensive damage to housing on outlying islands following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano.
- by Mike Foley
Tonga appears to have escaped complete devastation after volcano blast
Despite sitting almost on top of the volcano that erupted so violently on Saturday, Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread devastation that many initially feared.
- by Nick Perry
Updated
Tsunami
Extensive damage to Tongan islands as first images of eruption aftermath emerge
The Tongan government released a statement saying three people had died so far from the eruption and tsunami.
- by Jane Wardell, Kirsty Needham and Praveen Menon
Tongan blast was violent and vast, but may not disrupt global warming
While Tonga’s neighbours struggled to access information about what was happening on the ground, scientists, equipped with modern monitoring technology, saw the blast in real time.
- by Nick O'Malley and Liam Mannix
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
COVID a wild card in efforts to help Tonga
The country has so far been free of the disease.
- by Dr Tess Newton Cain