An underwater volcano erupted near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean on Saturday. The extent of the destruction in Tonga is still unknown. However, the tremendous explosion sparked tsunami fears across the Pacific, including as far as the west coast of the United States.

Tonga is a South Pacific island nation with a population of roughly 105,000 people. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano is located approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) off the coast of Tonga, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) from the capital, Nuku'alofa.

On Friday, the volcano began to erupt. Even though the volcano was underwater, it ejected a plume of gas, ash, and stones that reached a height of 12 miles (20 kilometres).

The eruption on Saturday was much greater. It's thought to be the biggest in nearly two decades. The eruption emitted a deafening "sonic boom" - an explosive pressure wave – that was heard 6,000 miles (10,000 kilometres) away in Alaska. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was caused by the volcano, as well as tsunami waves that travelled far and wide.

People were relocated from low-lying coastal locations in Japan, Chile, and Australia. In New Zealand, the waves sank boats, while in Peru, they killed two people. The National Weather Service in the United States issued a tsunami and floods warning from California to Alaska.

Because the event knocked off internet service in the area, getting news from Tonga took along. Tonga, like most other island nations, gets its internet via a cable that goes deep beneath the water. Experts say it's still unclear whether the cable was severed or merely lost power during the incident.

Nuku'alofa, the capital, was battered by a four-foot (1.2-meter) wave. People living in low-lying areas were compelled to relocate. Tonga has suffered significant damage, according to reports. Many homes at the water's edge were flooded, and some were destroyed.

In Tonga, no injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the eruption thus far. It may take some time before the extent of the damage in the area is known due to communication issues.

The volcano's smoke and ash, which has blanketed much of Tonga, are currently the greatest threat. The ash has contaminated several sources of drinking water and has made the air unsafe to breathe.

Tonga has received assistance from New Zealand and Australia. Aerial reconnaissance will be used by some of the teams to have a better understanding of the devastation across the island nation.

The enormous cloud of ash high above Tonga is currently making it tough to obtain a good image of what's going on in the area from such a high altitude. Tonga is also receiving assistance from the United States and the World Health Organization.