Tonga

A Defence Force plane was ready leave for Tonga this morning, if conditions allow, to assess the damage from Saturday's eruption and tsunami.

Early data from Tonga's violent volcanic eruption suggests it is the biggest blast since Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines 30 years ago, volcanologist Shane Cronin says.

There are no official reports of injuries or deaths in Tonga, as the Defence Force prepares to head to the islands, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.

There has been little contact with Tonga since an underwater volcano, Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai, erupted.

A tsunami warning is now in force for all of Tonga following this evening's violent volcano eruption.

Tonga's King Tupou VI says the kingdom must support the private sector and continue to face the ongoing challenges of a fledging economy, as well as the threat of Covid and illegal drugs.

Tonga's Parliament has been opened by King Tupou VI.

Tonga's King Tupou VI will open the first session of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga this morning.

A traditional funeral with military honours has been held for Tonga's former deputy prime minister Lord Ma'afu Tukui'aulahi in Tongatapu.

The funeral proceedings for Tonga's former deputy prime minister Lord Ma'afu are taking place in the Kingdom.

The Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano continues to erupt intermittently, and ash has been detected in all directions up to 30km away.

Tonga's new Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni has announced his new 12-member Cabinet and the two Governors for Vava'u and Ha'apai.

While observations have had to be kept to a distance, new satellite imagery shows the island's land mass has grown since Monday.

The Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga is continuing to pump plumes of gas and dust several kilometres in to the air.

Acid rain from a large volcanic eruption in Tonga continues to threaten water tanks, as huge plumes of dust are thrust into the air.