Tsunami warning issued for parts of NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania

A tsunami warning has been issued for parts of NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania following the eruption of an underwater volcano. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued marine warnings for coastal areas across eastern Australia, including parts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania at 9:19 pm AEDT on Saturday.

An underwater volcano off Tonga has erupted, triggering a tsunami warning for several South Pacific island nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Lord Howe and Norkfolk Island. Powerful waves have been seen hitting the shores of Tonga after a tsunami warning was issued for the Pacific nation following underwater volcanic activity.

Satellite footage showed the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupting on Saturday evening (local time). Earlier, the Matangi Tonga news site reported scientists had observed massive explosions, thunder and lightning near the volcano after it started erupting early Friday. Satellite images showed a five-kilometre plume of ash, steam and gas rising into the air to about 20 kilometres.

A tsunami warning has been issued along parts of Australia’s east coast after the eruption of an underwater volcano near Tonga.

There are land warnings for Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island.

In NSW, a marine warning is in place for all coastal areas. In Queensland, the marine warning is in place for Sandy Cape to Point Danger including Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast Waters.

In Victoria, a marine warning is in place for Lakes Entrance to 60nm east of Gabo Island including East Gippsland Coast. A warning is also in place for Macquarie Island.

In Tasmania, a marine warning applies to the northern tip of Flinders Island to South East Cape including East of Flinders Island, Banks Strait and Franklin Sound, Upper East Coast, Lower East Coast, South East Coast, D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Derwent Estuary, Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay, Storm Bay from 10pm.

“People in areas with threat of land inundation and flooding are strongly advised by emergency authorities to go to higher ground or at least 1 kilometre inland,” the warning states.

“In areas with a threat to the marine environment only, emergency authorities advise people to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water’s edge of harbours, coastal estuaries, rock platforms and beaches.”