Tsunami-hit Tonga covered in ash

The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano, located in the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, caused tsunami waves across the Pacific Ocean and was heard as far away as New Zealand. Photo by REUTERS.

8 PHOTOS

1. A satellite image shows houses and buildings covered in ash from the main eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Nuku'alofa.

2. A general view from a P-3K2 Orion reconnaissance aircraft of the New Zealand Defense Force shows ash-covered houses and vegetation over Nomuka in Tonga after a tsunami hit the Pacific island nation caused by a massive underwater volcanic eruption.

3. The satellite image shows the main port facilities after the main volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai at Nuku'alofa.

4. A general view from a P-3K2 Orion reconnaissance aircraft of the New Zealand Defense Force shows heavy ashfall over Nomuka in Tonga after the Pacific island nation was hit by a tsunami caused by an underwater volcanic eruption.

5. A plume rises over Tonga following the eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japan meteorological satellite operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

6. The eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai off the coast of Tonga.

7. The plume rises over Tonga during the eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai. This satellite image was taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese meteorological satellite operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

8. The plume rises over Tonga during the eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai. This satellite image was taken by Himawari-8 on January 15th. National Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT).