'Jolt' from Tonga volcano eruption felt in Westmeath

Pressure waves from the volcanic eruption which devastated Tonga on January 14 reached Mullingar, Met Éireann has revealed.

Two separate “jolts” registered on recording equipment at the met station in Mullingar – one on January 15, and the second at 2am on January 16.

Met Éireann shared graphs showing pressure traces recorded at its stations at both Mullingar and Valentia. Tonga is some 10,000 miles from this country.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano north of Tongatapu lasted more than 12 hours, and sent volcanic ash and gasses 30km into the atmosphere.

After the eruption, a series of tsunami waves resulted, affecting locations as far distant as Japan and the United States.

Damage caused to an underwater communications cable left most parts of Tonga without communication and internet access following the disaster, making it difficult for assessment of the level of devastation caused, but the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) stated that while only three people were reported to have died: “Volcanic ash is covering all surfaces, including trees and homes in Tonga.

“Water infrastructure is severely compromised. Fuel and food is running short in some areas but government and community partners are delivering meals and supplies as quickly as possible.”