Scientists reconstruct one of this century's most explosive volcanic eruptions to explore its role in a tsunami

edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Robert Egan

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Add as preferred source Satellite imagery revealing the evolution of submerged parts of Hunga volcano. Credit: Nature Geoscience (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-026-02099-7 In 2022, the eruption and collapse of an underwater volcano in Tonga caused a devastating tsunami that killed four people, disrupted seafloor ecosystems and damaged critical seafloor telecommunications cables. It was one of the most powerful volcanic events this century.

All active volcanoes pose potential risks to surrounding populations, but when they are at the bottom of the sea, they present a raft of different dangers, including giant waves that can wash over distant shorelines without warning. Studying them from above the surface can also be difficult because of their extreme depth and relative inaccessibility.