Category: Tonga

Earthquake of Magnitude 7.2 Strikes Near Tonga

An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake’s epicenter was located about 280 kilometers (174 miles) southwest of Tonga, at a depth of 167.4 kilometers (104 miles), according to USGS. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said there was no…


US Opens Embassy in Tonga to Affirm Ties Amid China’s Growing Influence

The United States opened an embassy in Tonga on Tuesday, reaffirming its commitment to strengthen ties with the Pacific island nation amid Beijing’s growing influence in the region. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the new embassy in Tonga would allow the United States to deploy more diplomatic staff and resources, including the potential appointment…


Tsunami Advisory Lifted After Powerful Earthquake Hits Tonga

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—A powerful, shallow underwater earthquake struck Friday near Tonga in the southern Pacific, prompting authorities to issue and then lift a tsunami advisory. The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.3 quake was centered 211 kilometers (132 miles) east-southeast of Neiafu, Tonga, at a depth of 24.8 kilometers (15 miles). It predicted strong…


Scientists Say Tonga’s Volcanic Eruption Released Record Amount of Water Vapor Into Stratosphere

The violent eruption of an underwater volcano near Tonga in January blasted a record amount of water vapor into the atmosphere, but not all scientists agree about the exact amount. Tonga was hit by an underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano and subsequent tsunami on Jan. 15, which wiped out an entire village on one…


New Island Spotted in Pacific Ocean After Underwater Volcanic Eruption

A new island has emerged in the southwest Pacific Ocean after an underwater volcano near Tonga erupted, though its existence may only be transitory, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory. The Home Reef volcano in the Central Tonga Islands began to erupt on Sept. 10, oozing lava, emitting steam and ash, and discoloring the surrounding water….


Japan, Tonga Hold First Joint Navy Drill to Bolster Defense Cooperation

Japan and Tonga have held their first joint navy drill to bolster defense cooperation amid growing concerns over China’s military presence in the region. The joint drill, which was held in waters near the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22, involved the Japanese destroyer JS Kirisame and the Tongan patrol vessel…


Pacific Nation Attempts to Deport High Court Judge

Australian David Lambourne, who serves on the High Court of Kiribati, remains in immigration detention after authorities failed to deport him from the small Pacific country. Lambourne’s ordeal comes during a tumultuous week for democratic institutions across the South Pacific with the Tongan Parliament ousting three MPs for bribing voters just a day earlier. High…


Beijing Inks Security, Economic and Disaster Relief Deal With Pacific Nation Tonga

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has managed to secure several bilateral agreements with Tonga on disaster relief, agriculture, fishery, health and police equipment as he reaches the backend of his ten-day trip around the Pacific. It comes after Beijing vows to continue pushing Pacific nations to join a sweeping regional security and economy deal despite…


Tonga Volcanic Eruption Was Largest Ever Documented, Say Scientists

The Tonga volcanic eruption in January was the largest atmospheric explosion documented since the 1883 Krakatoa eruption in Indonesia, according to scientists. Tonga was hit by an underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano and subsequent tsunami on Jan. 15, which wiped out an entire village on one of Tonga’s small outer islands and killed…


Tsunami-Hit Tonga Reconnects to Internet After 5 Weeks of Outage

Tonga’s Internet connection was restored on Tuesday, five weeks after the Pacific island nation had been cut off from the outside world owing to a massive volcano eruption and tsunami that severed an undersea cable between Tonga and Fiji. Digicel Tonga issued a statement on Tuesday stating that data connectivity was restored in the main…