Hunga Ha'apai (Tonga) Eruption and Tsunami: The Geology Behind the Headlines Fundraiser 34,300 views • Jan 20, 2022 • On January 14, 2022 (January 15, 2022 UTM), Hunga Ha'apai Volcano explosively erupted and sent ash plumes 12 miles (19km) into the sky above the Kingdom of Tonga. A shockwave went around the world and a tsunami killed people as far away as Chile. Paul Day, Professor of Geology, explains the geologic context for many of the news headlines that have circulated since the eruption and tries to explain the known science behind this still-unfolding event.