The massive undersea volcanic eruption that hit the island nation of Tonga on Saturday was felt by several countries with borders on the Pacific Ocean. The blast was heard as far away as Alaska and was probably one of the loudest events to occur on Earth in over a century, according to Michael Poland, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Video of tsunami surges in Oregon and on Kauaʻi have popped up on social media. Sea Quest Hawaii, a snorkeling tour company on the Big Island, was also impacted. It operates out of Keauhou Bay, just south of Kona. The Conversation called up its co-owner, Manu Powers, to get an idea of the damage.
This interview aired on The Conversation on Jan. 18, 2022. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.
