Header photo: NZ Defence Force, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Seacology’s thoughts are with the people of Tonga, who are suffering after the eruption of the enormous Hunga Tonga-Hunga volcano on January 15. The violent eruption covered many of Tonga’s islands with thick ash and created tsunamis of staggering size—up to 50 feet, according to news reports. Our Tonga field representative was in New Zealand when the disaster struck; like everyone, he has been unable to communicate with anyone in Tonga because all communications are down.

The first relief supplies are already on their way to Tonga; once they arrive, the world should learn more about the situation there. We are of course anxious to find out how the Tongan people, and the Seacology projects there, are faring. Once we know, we will do what we can to help. As always, we will follow the lead of island communities–from long experience with natural disasters around the world, we know that we can provide effective help only when people on the ground let us know what they need.