19th March 2009
By Mauro Galluzzo for dailystar.co.uk
A MASSIVE earthquake struck off the south Pacific island of Tonga tonight, triggering a small tsunami in the region.
The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.9 quake struck 132 miles southeast of Nuku’alofa, Tonga, at around 6.30pm, although the resulting wave was not expected to cause any major damage.
It came after days of spectacular seismic activity in the area.
As these INCREDIBLE pictures show, an undersea volcano has also erupted, shooting smoke, steam and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean.
Officials said the eruption didn't pose any danger to islanders at this stage, and there have been no reports of fish or other animals being affected.
Following tonight's earthquake, the US National Weather Service’s Pacific tsunami centre said: "Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami was generated.
"This tsunami may have been destructive along coastlines of the region near the earthquake epicenter,"
It said a tsunami warning was in effect for Tonga, Niue, Kermadec Island, American Samoa, Samoa, Wallis-Futuna and Fiji.
It added that the tsunami might be felt as far away as Hawaii but was not expected to cause any damage there.
The volcano, which has been erupting for more than 48 hours, sent spectacular columns are spewing out of the sea about 6 miles from the southwest coast off the main island of Tongatapu — an area where up to 36 undersea volcanoes are clustered.
Tonga’s police deputy commander Taniela Faletau said trade winds were blowing the low gas and steam away from the island - and insisted villages close to the ocean site were not yet at risk.
Locals said the steam and ash column first appeared on Monday morning, after a series of sharp earthquakes were felt in the capital, Nuku’alofa.
Keleti Mafi from Tonga’s Geological Service, said the underwater eruption was taking place near the low-lying twin volcanic islands of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai, and within sight of the capital, Nuku’alofa.
Large amounts of pumice thrown up by the erupting volcano would likely clog beaches on the southern coast of nearby Fiji islands within a short time.
Tonga, a 170-island archipelago about halfway between Australia and Tahiti, is part of the Pacific 'ring of fire' - an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching from Chile in South America through Alaska and down through Vanuatu to Tonga.
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