March 20, 2009 -- A volcanic eruption close to the South Pacific nation of Tonga has destroyed rich bird life and vegetation, leaving a wasteland of black ash and tree stumps, witnesses said Friday. Sightseers, officials and scientists who have taken boats to the site have described frequent explosions hurtling rocks and ash thousands of feet into the air. The undersea volcano, part of the small, uninhabited islet of Hunga Ha'apai 39 miles northwest of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, began erupting Monday, several days after a moderate earthquake. It continued to spew Friday even as a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 rocked Tonga's main island of Tongatapu. Related Content:
The volcano is hundreds of miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, which caused no significant damage but sparked a regional tsunami warning. Radio journalist George Lavaka, who visited the island with a sightseeing group Thursday, said the explosions were accompanied by a deep rumbling. "The island itself is totally destroyed," Lavaka said, "there is no living thing left there, it's all covered in black ash. "There are only black stumps where the coconut trees were," he added. "We saw dead birds and fish in the water." Tonga's chief geologist Kelepi Mafi, who inspected the area Thursday, said the volcano has two vents, one on Hunga Ha'apai and another around 330 feet offshore. The volume of the rock and ash coming from the vents has completely filled the gap between the offshore vent and Hunga Ha'apai, increasing the island's land mass by hundreds of square feet. Tonga, which lies almost 1,200 miles northeast of New Zealand, lies on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," where continental plates collide causing frequent volcanic and seismic activity. Lavaka's boat managed to get out of harm's way when the explosive power of the eruptions suddenly surged. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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