Volcano near Tonga has erupted eight times in 48 hours as warning levels are raised

  • NEW ZEALAND RAISES ALERT LEVEL ON TAUPO SUPERVOLCANO, WHICH CAUSED THE LARGEST ERUPTION ON EARTH IN THE PAST 5,000 YEARS
  • A volcano north of Tonga’s main island has erupted eight times in the past 48 hours, according to the Pacific nation’s geological service, which has warned mariners to keep their distance Tuesday.
  • The Home Reef volcano has been erupting for the past 10 days, oozing molten lava and shooting steam and ash at least three kilometers (almost two miles) into the air.
  • Home Reef’s eruption currently poses a low risk to “residents of Vava’u and Ha’apai” — two of Tonga’s most populated islands
  • But warning levels were raised by one notch Tuesday as the pace of eruptions quickened.
  • Mariners have been told not to sail closer than four kilometers
  • Pilots have been warned to take caution when flying through airspace near the volcano

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