A Royal Evacuation: The Dramatic Tsunami That Struck Tonga
On Friday and early Shabbat morning, a deadly tsunami hit the Pacific Ocean near Tonga following an underwater volcanic eruption. Residents received a warning and were evacuated, and even the King of Tonga was evacuated from his palace.
- רץ ברשת
- פורסם י"ד שבט התשפ"ב
#VALUE!
This is how the deadly explosion appeared in the Pacific Ocean near Tonga - from the underwater volcano known as 'Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai'.
The explosion, which occurred Friday and at five in the morning on Shabbat, caused a significant tsunami that impacted the island of Tongatapu. Eyewitnesses who were there and captured the horrifying and dramatic moments described it as "something unimaginable, not seen every day".
A tsunami warning was issued in recent days in New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. Satellite imagery showed the volcanic explosion as a large cloud of ash (as seen in the first video). Following the tsunami, King Tupou VI of Tonga was evacuated from his palace to safety.
The moment of the explosion as reported in the local media:
After the sea slightly 'calmed':
