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Volcanic smoke seen in early Tonga eruption

Japanese weather satellite Himawari 8 detected ash plumes measuring 5-20 kilometers (3-12 miles) following the eruption, officials said.

The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano erupted once again on Saturday (January 15), triggering a tsunami on the shores of Tonga and cut off phone and internet lines for the entire island.

Australia and New Zealand sent surveillance flights on Monday (January 17) to assess damage in Tonga, isolated from the rest of the world after the eruption blanketed the Pacific island with ash.