How an eruption changed an island

These two satellite images show the dramatic change to the Hunga Tonga-hunga Ha’apai volcano after the explosion on 15 January 2022. It clearly shows the destroyed ‘land bridge’ area around the volcano and collapse of the caldera. Due to disrupted communications systems, satellites have played an important role in gathering data about the eruption and its consequences.

Before image from Sentinel 1 satellite. After image from Pléiades satellite, © CNES.