Two days after a colossal volcanic eruption spawned a tsunami that struck the island nation of Tonga, severed communication lines left Tongans around the world waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones, while aid agencies and the country¡¯s Pacific neighbors struggled to assess the scale of the damage.
On Saturday night, an undersea volcano about 40 miles north of Tonga¡¯s main island belched ash, gas and steam more than 12 miles into the air, creating a cloud of sulfur dioxide over the region, sending particles drifting across the island and disabling a crucial submarine internet cable. It was believed to be the largest volcanic eruption in three decades, with the shock wave traveling thousands of miles.
Hours later, Tonga, a country of around 100,000 people, was pummeled by a tsunami. Waves of up to 4 feet hit Nuku¡¯alofa, the Tongan capital. Footage shared in the final moments before the internet connection was cut showed people running inland, searching desperately for higher ground in a very flat country.
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