Underwater Volcano Erupts near Tonga

Reuters

A submarine volcanic eruption occurred today in the Tonga Islands of the South Pacific.
The Tonga Islands occur along the Ring of Fire, a ring of heightened seismic activity in the Pacific Basin. In particular this volcano is located in an area where up to 36 undersea volcanoes are clustered.
The powerful eruption have caused an amazing spectacle for the witnesses, shooting clouds of smoke, steam and ash thousands of meters into the sky above the South Pacific ocean spectacular columns spewed out of the sea about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the southwest coast off the main island of Tongatapu.


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The column of smoke and ash as seen from the main island of Tongatapu, 10 kilometers south:

AP

Getty

A map of the area:


and satellitar NASA images, the eruption is clearly visible, and even the pumice raft:

NASA

even at a lower enlargement:

NASA