Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai is a submarine volcanic system in the Haʻapai island group of Tonga, located between the small islands of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Haʻapai. It is notable for repeated explosive eruptions and for producing a temporary island during 2014-2015.

The volcano produced a new landmass in 2014-2015 through eruptive deposition between the two older islands, creating a connected volcanic island that attracted scientific and tourist interest. On 15 January 2022 a very large explosive eruption largely removed the new island and generated tsunami waves and widespread ashfall that caused significant damage to Tonga’s inhabited islands.

The volcanic vents lie in the central Haʻapai marine area; the feature is hazardous, subject to rapid change from eruptions, and access is restricted except for scientific work and monitored field visits.

• Recent activity: The submarine volcanic system produced a new above-water island during eruptions in 2014-2015, which was largely destroyed by the major explosive eruption on 15 January 2022.
• Regional and global impact: The 2022 eruption generated tsunami waves and atmospheric shock waves that affected Tonga and were recorded worldwide, making the volcano one of the most widely observed volcanic events of the early 2020s.