A volcano in the Tonga archipelago has destroyed all plant and animal life on the island of Hunga Ha'apai, according to a survey of the area.
The volcano, which began erupting on 16 March, is sited 63 kilometres northwest of the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa. Concern grew on 20 March when a magnitude-7.9 earthquake some 210 kilometres southeast of Nuku'alofa led to tsunami warnings for all residents within 1,000 kilometres of the epicentre.
Although the tsunami warning was later cancelled, scientists have warned that the quake could lead to more lava flowing from the volcano's two vents: one situated on the island, the other just offshore.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific 'ring of fire' — the chain of volcanoes that skirts the Pacific Ocean — Mount Redoubt in Alaska erupted on 22 March, throwing huge plumes of ash into the sky.
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Flames burn higher in Pacific 'ring of fire'. Nature 458, 397 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/458397f
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/458397f
