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Tsunami warnings have been issued for the east coast of Australia after the undersea volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai erupted near Tonga earlier today.
The BOM’s Joint Tsunami Warning Centre issued maritime warnings for Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.
The maritime hazard in Queensland, according to the centre, may affect Sandy Cape to Point Danger. The Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters, Moreton Bay, and Gold Coast Waters are all included.
All coastal locations in NSW are affected by the tsunami threat.
The alert extends from Lakes Entrance to Gabo Island in Victoria, as well as the East Gippsland Coast.
Finally, the warning for the Northern Tip of Flinders Island to South East Cape has been issued in Tasmania.
The Joint Tsunami Warning Centre is warning of severe rips, waves, strong ocean currents, and some localized overflow onto the foreshow in each of the affected regions.
Those warnings will be updated by the BOM throughout the night.
Lorde Howe Island and Norfolk Island have received land threats, while Macquarie Island has received a marine danger.
Tsunami warnings have also been issued by a number of Pacific Ocean states, including New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga itself.
The King of Tonga evacuated
A massive explosion was visible on satellite pictures. A tsunami warning was in force for all of Tonga, according to the Tonga Meteorological Services, and data from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre revealed waves of 80cm had been observed.
Authorities in neighboring Fiji and Samoa issued similar warnings, advising residents to stay away from the beach owing to strong currents and hazardous seas.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there may be a small swelling of the sea around the Japanese coasts, but no damage is predicted.
According to the Islands Business news site, Tonga’s King Tupou VI was evacuated from his palace near the shore by a convoy of police and military forces. He was one of several locals who fled to higher ground.
