New Island Spotted in Pacific Ocean After Underwater Volcanic Eruption

A new island has emerged in the southwest Pacific Ocean after an underwater volcano near Tonga erupted, though its existence may only be transitory, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

The Home Reef volcano in the Central Tonga Islands began to erupt on Sept. 10, oozing lava, emitting steam and ash, and discoloring the surrounding water. NASA said the new island was formed 11 hours later.

On Sept. 14, the Tonga Geological Services estimated that the island was 4,000 square meters in size (equivalent to 1 acre) and 10 meters above sea level. It grew to 24,000 square meters (6 acres) six days later, NASA said.

NASA reports that Home Reef has seen four eruptions, including events in 1852, 1857, and 1984, which resulted in the formation of new islands each time.

Islands formed by undersea volcanoes are often short-lived, though sometimes they persist for years, it said.

“An island created by a 12-day eruption from nearby Late’iki volcano in 2020 washed away after two months, while an earlier island created in 1995 by the same volcano remained for 25 years,” NASA said.

The new island is located northeast of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, while the Home Reef sits within “an area where three tectonic plates are colliding at the fastest converging boundary in the world.”

According to the Tonga Geological Services, the new island expanded to 8.6 acres and 49 feet above sea level as of Sept. 19, with volcanic activities at Home Reef seamount continuing on the 16th day.

The geological agency said Monday that there were 13 eruptions at Home Reef volcano in the previous 24 hours, but added that they posed a low risk to the local communities in Vava’u and Ha’apai islands.

“All mariners are advised to sail beyond 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Home Reef until further notice,” the Tonga Geological Services said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Tonga was hit by an underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano and subsequent tsunami on Jan. 15, which wiped out an entire village on one of Tonga’s small outer islands and killed at least three people.

Scientists said the Tonga volcanic eruption in January was the largest atmospheric explosion documented since the 1883 Krakatoa eruption in Indonesia.