Before and after high-resolution satellite image of Niutoua, a village on Tonga's main island Tongatapu. The extent of damage after the colossal volcanic eruption is unclear, as most buildings appear to be standing but are ash-covered. H/t @AnneMPellegrino @obretix @wammezz. 
Before and after satellite imagery, also courtesy of @planet, of Kanokupolu, also on Tonga's Tongatapu. This is not as high-resolution as the image above, so the extent of damage is unclear, see:
https://twitter.com/N_Waters89/status/1483218593638719490
Two days after the eruption spawned a tsunami, severed communication lines left Tongans around the world waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones, while aid agencies and the country's Pacific neighbours struggled to asses the scale of the damage. nytimes.com/2022/01/17/wor…
Before and after imagery from @Maxar's WorldView-2 satellite shows how most of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcanic island has been destroyed by the eruption. Volcanic debris can be seen floating in the ocean.
This before/after image, also courtesy of @Maxar, shows the damage following the eruption as well as the tsunami at the main port facilities in the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa.
Annotated satellite image by @Maxar shows Tonga's main airport is being cleared up from volcanic ash which was delaying much-needed aid deliveries.
https://twitter.com/trbrtc/status/1483330822132355072
More footage from New Zealand's surveillance flight assessing the damage.
https://twitter.com/LGalrao/status/1483401027315503108
The first official statement from the Tonga government confirms 3 deaths: a Nomuka man, a Mango Island woman, and a British national. The tsunami wave up to 15 meters high. Internet still down, limited contact with Outer Islands and no contact with two Niuas.
Tonga's official statement also gives insight in the extent of damage: all buildings on Mango Island are destroyed, only two homes remain on Fonoifua, and extensive damage on Namuka. Overview of their position in relation to the volcano in annotated Google Earth image below.
Alongside New Zealand, Australia's military also conducted surveillance flights and has released some images from their Poseidon P-8, including a closer look at the extensive damage at Tonga's main sea port. H/t @LGalrao.
https://twitter.com/DeptDefence/status/1483348596565364737
The Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Adelaide is a Canberra-class landing helicopter dock that can operate in shallow waters and will try to reach Tonga's outer islands.
https://twitter.com/fineutuvai/status/1483272966654001153
Leaked aerial photo from New Zealand's P-2K2 Orion surveillance aircraft shows work crews clearing up Tonga's main airport, as seen earlier on this satellite image:
https://twitter.com/trbrtc/status/1483330822132355072(via @ashermcs @LGalrao)
The New Zealand Defence Force observed “Catastrophic Damage” observed bat Atata and Mango Islands, and “Limited Damage” at the Niutoua wind farm and the bridge between Kuolo and Fangale'ounga. Via @_Nathan_Morton_ and @LGalrao. stuff.co.nz/world/south-pa…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
