Two people have died in Peru after the eruption of an underwater volcano thousands of miles off the coast of Tonga caused high waves along the Peruvian coast on January 16, 2022.
The National Civil Defense Institute of Peru (INDECI) reported strong waves in the regions of La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Ica and Arequipa. Twenty-two ports on the north and central coasts have been closed and fishing activities suspended.
Buildings were damaged in the popular tourist area of Paracas, Ica region and some residents and visitors were evacuated. INDECI reported that two people drowned in the high waves in the district of Lambayeque, located in the province and region of the same name.
Tonga volcanic eruption
The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai submarine volcano in northern Tonga erupted on January 15, 2022, sending a huge plume of ash into the sky. Telephone and electricity connections were cut following the eruption, and the full damage assessment has yet to be confirmed. The eruption is believed to have triggered a tsunami with waves of around 1 meter in Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, as well as parts of Fiji and American Samoa. At the beginning of January 17, new possible eruptions of the volcano were reported.
Coastal flooding caused by high waves triggered by the volcanic eruption was also reported in Iquique in the department of Tarapacá in northern Chile, in areas of the island of Amami-Oshima in Japan, in parts of Santa Cruz and Port San Luis in California, USA, and on the coast of Tutukaka in New Zealand.
Social Media
Tsunami of Tonga, rather impressive which propagated to the stations of the coast of Mexico (Manzanillo on 1,4m) and California… Here is an order an attempt to model this tsunami @geosmx #geoclaw pic.twitter.com/drzz5GMHJK
– angel ruiz (@angelruizangulo) January 15, 2022
Tsunami videos from Tonga 🇹🇴 this afternoon following the volcano eruption. pic.twitter.com/JTIcEdbpGe
— Jese Tuisinu (@JTuisinu) January 15, 2022
Tsunami waves flooded the village of Mavana in Vanuabalavu-Lau following the eruption of the volcano in Tonga 🇹🇴 yesterday.
video: Atelaite Cama. pic.twitter.com/NXIPACTEwy
— Jese Tuisinu (@JTuisinu) January 16, 2022
This family was in church. They had just finished practicing choir and the tsunami hit 😩❤️🇹🇴 pic.twitter.com/DLLFRJ9BAc
— KNOWKNEE (@JohnnyTeisi) January 15, 2022
WATCH: Tsunami from volcanic eruption in Tonga reaches Peru pic.twitter.com/U9aj9cqGt2
– BNO News (@BNONews) January 16, 2022
WATCH: Tsunami from eruption of Tonga Volcano begins to cause minor flooding in Santa Cruz, California pic.twitter.com/ELq8IKMEUV
– BNO News (@BNONews) January 15, 2022
🔴⚠️#URGENT⚠️🔴 #Tsunami in Caleta Caramucho from #Iquique. Recordamos NO ACERCARSE AL BORDE COSTERO! @reddeemergencia pic.twitter.com/q0U6gmSlkR
— Informaciones Chile (@InformacionesCL) January 15, 2022
