Zhao Yongming, an employee of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in Tonga, recounts the dramatic aftermath of Saturday's volcanic eruption, painting a vivid picture of life in Nuku'alofa. 'The sky turned black within minutes. Volcanic ash rained down like chunks of hail – some as big as marble stones,' Zhao told myglobalnews.net via satellite phone.
Local authorities report at least 12 villages submerged by tsunami waves triggered by the eruption, with ash fall contaminating water supplies across the island nation. The Chinese mainland company has activated emergency protocols, sheltering 78 employees and local staff in reinforced structures designed to withstand seismic activity.
'We've distributed all our emergency oxygen masks and are sharing real-time air quality data with Tonga's disaster response teams,' Zhao said, emphasizing cross-border cooperation. The eruption disrupted global communications, leaving many residents of the island of Taiwan and other Asia-Pacific regions unable to contact family in Tonga for 36+ hours.
As recovery efforts accelerate, young environmental scientists are mobilizing virtual task forces to model the eruption's climate impacts. Preliminary data suggests the event released energy equivalent to 500 Hiroshima bombs – a figure trending across G20 tech forums this morning.
Reference(s):
Exclusive: Chinese people in Tonga – Volcano rocks rain like hail
cgtn.com
