The power of the volcanic eruption near the Tonga archipelago exceeded the power of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima several times. NASA scientists have calculated that.
According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano spewed a mushroom cloud up to 40 kilometers high in the eruption. It could be heard as far as Alaska, more than 9,000 kilometers away, and also caused a tsunami.
According to NASA, the eruption was several hundred times more powerful than the American atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in August 1945, good for an estimated 15 kilotons (15,000 metric tons) of TNT. “We think the amount of energy released in the eruption was between 5 and 30 megatons (5 to 30 million tons) of TNT,” NASA scientist Jim Garvin said in a publication released last night. The shock wave was also felt by us.
Also review. Weatherman David Dehenauw explains why shock wave also came to us:
Injury
The island group of about 100,000 inhabitants was covered with poisonous ash. Drinking water was poisoned and agricultural crops were destroyed. At least two villages were completely destroyed. The eruption also killed at least three people in Tonga and drowned two in Peru, which was hit by extremely high waves.
In Tonga, the extent of the damage is still unclear, as communications are still disrupted. The Japanese, New Zealand and Australian military have started to provide emergency supplies, including water.
Even on the Kemmelberg, the earthquake in Tonga was felt, but then on measuring equipment from amateur meteorologists (+)
Peru declares state of emergency over oil pollution caused by volcano eruption
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