Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres has expressed deep concerns after reports of a tsunami and ash affecting Tonga following the eruption of an undersea volcano near the Pacific nation.
The UN chief also expressed his concern about the tsunami warnings that had been issued by the UN in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.
In a statement by UN spokesperson Farhan Haq, Guterres was quoted as saying that the United Nations offices in the Pacific are closely monitoring the situation and are on standby to provide support if requested.
“The Secretary-General is grateful to countries that have already offered their support”, Haq said in the statement published on Saturday.
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According to the Tonga Geological Services, a massive underwater volcano erupted just before sundown on Friday with plumes reaching more than 12 miles above sea level.
A cloud of ash and steam reached about 150 miles across, an event captured by satellite images that have been shared by various meteorological agencies.
There are no reports yet of injuries or on the extent of the damage due to the nation’s current lack of connectivity.
