Tonga volcano grows in size as eruption continues for sixth day

Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai are two close volcanic islands in Tonga. Photo / RNZ

Satellite imagery shows the island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai has grown in size as the underwater volcano erupts into its sixth day.

Tonga's head geologist Taniela Kula has all week been monitoring the volcano, which erupted again this morning.

While observations have had to be kept to a distance, new satellite imagery shows the island's land mass has grown since Monday.

"The island has grown 300 to 600 metres to the eastern side. So it has widened up a bit. [The debris] has been building up the island, building up the rim of the vents," Kula said.

Data from the @CopernicusEU's Sentinel-1 mission shows that the island of Hunga Tonga has grown larger because of this eruption.
Look at the new bright area in the middle of this, that's new land! https://t.co/iswrCaJMpX pic.twitter.com/LJtoTaSgxF

— Simon Proud (@simon_sat) December 24, 2021

Today's ash clouds had fallen back into the ocean over a 10km radius, he said.

The volcano has an active history, last erupting in 2014/15 and before that in 2009.

In 2015, Tongan government officials said eruptions at Hunga Ha'apai had formed a new island more than 1km long, joined to the existing island.

It has reportedly become a home for plants and birds.

More satellite footage will be sent to Kula and his team monitoring the eruption this afternoon.

- RNZ