Startling images from Vava’u and Ha’apai islands this evening show otherworldly red-orange skies hanging over parts of the islands, from which the threatening volcanic eruption at the Hungas could be seen in the sky.
Neiafu and Mango island residents shared photos of the incidents on Facebook.
Tonga is now under a state of tsunami marine alert after large volcanic eruptions last night continued this morning causing some abnormal tides and waves in Tongatapu and Mango island seas.
Social media users are drawing parallels between the Hungas volcanic activities, red skies and the complete final destruction of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation.
Tonga Geological Services said this morning that volcanic plume of ash, steam and gas were detected.
“Eruption is forecasted to be imminent with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere like, or eruption is underway with significant emission of ash into the atmosphere”.
It said satellite images showed “ash plume at altitude 5-20 km above sea level”.
Why are skies red at night?
According to https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ a red sky appears when dust and small particles are trapped in the atmosphere by high pressure. This scatters blue light leaving only red light to give the sky its notable appearance. A red sky at sunset means high pressure is moving in from the west, so therefore the next day will usually be dry and pleasant.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA NOUNOU
Ko e lanu kulokula ‘a e langi’ he po’uli’ ‘oku tupu mei hano fakafihia’i ‘e ha ‘ea mālohi ha ngaahi pātikolo iiki mo ha efu he ‘etimosifia’. Hanga ‘e he ongo me’a’ ni ‘o veteki ‘a e lanu pulū angamaheni ‘o e langi’ kae ‘asi kulokula mai ia. Ka taaitō leva ‘a e la’aa’ kuo ‘asi kulokula mai ‘a e langi’ pea ko e mahino ia kuo nga’unu ‘a e ‘ea mālohi’ ni mei he hihifo’ mo e efu mo e pātikolo ne fihia’. Ko ia ai ‘e ‘i ai ‘a e ‘amanaki lelei ki he ‘aho hono hoko’ ‘e langi ma’a ia mo mātu’u.
