Posted on 03/18/2009 10:50:07 AM PDT by TaraP
The Pacific nation of Tonga is waiting to see if it has a new island, after an underwater volcanic eruption forced a column of smoke and ash into the skies near the country's capital, Nuku'alofa.
The eruption began on Monday after an earth tremor and is still sending clouds of smoke, steam and ash up to 100 metres into the air.
Seismologists say the tremor was between the low-lying twin volcanic islands of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha'apai, an area where around 36 undersea volcanoes are situated.
Kelepi Mafi from Tonga's Ministry of Lands says a marine survey will begin tomorrow to find out if if the island nation is about to get a new island.
"At the moment we have no idea what is going on around there, apart from the smoke that we observe from Nuku'alofa, so at this point in time we are not able to give you an exact description of what has happened," he says.
TAX IT!! < /Democrats >
In Addition:
MELBOURNE (AFP) – An earthquake shook Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, for the second time in a fortnight Wednesday, rocking buildings and dislodging furniture.
The 4.5 magnitude quake struck at 4:28pm (0528 GMT) some 100 kilometres (62 miles) southeast of the city, the Seismology Research Centre said, in almost exactly the same spot as a March 6 quake.
The centre said its magnitude and depth of 10 kilometres meant it was unlikely to cause major damage.
“This earthquake has been felt widely throughout the epicentral region and across Melbourne,” the centre said on its website
Is this where boonga boonga originated???
Quick, notify Al Gore - Global Warming is occuring again.
LOL..
Maybe...A New Island.
someone call Al Gore...new carbon credits!
Nuku’alofa
Is that a sister city to the one in Iran, Nuku’alota ?
Bush’s fault!
Thanks..
I have to be honest I did not know where Tonga was...
only that it was polynesian...
I’m sure it drives liberals crazy to know that they can’t impose taxes on mother nature when this kind of thing happens.
Climate change cannot be debated. This island proves it. After the volcano creates an island, us evil SUV drivers will bury it with melted glaciers and acid rain.
Uh oh, Tongo!!!!!
Yes, you can’t debate a topic with people whose heads are filled with rock.
SUPER FLY, JIMMY SNUKA!
Nuke-you-all-over ping.
There have been a number of earthquakes in this area lately
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Maps/region/S_Pacific.php
And who wants to bet they won’t name it the island of Obama?
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