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Spectacular eruption destroys popular Tongan fishing spot 
4:00AM Friday Mar 20, 2009
By Eloise Gibson
Spectators watch as an undersea volcano erupts off the coast of Tonga. Photo / AP
Tongan
fishing guide Lothar Slabon watched his favourite spot disappear in
plumes of steam and ash yesterday as a spectacular undersea volcano
erupted under the ocean.
Mr Slabon and six others took a boat to
within 100m of the volcano that has been erupting for days near the
coast of the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa.
He spent two hours listening to dark rumblings "like drums" under the ocean and watching the hissing plumes of steam.
"It
was kind of mind-blowing, there was a vibration in the air, and a
smell, and then the sound ... it's probably a once in a lifetime
experience."
Mr Slabon said his excitement was mixed with sadness
because a green and rocky island near which he loved to fish was being
smothered in volcanic rock and ash.
"There must be thousands of dead birds on the island. It's so sad to see the damage."
Authorities
said yesterday the eruption - which has been shooting smoke, steam and
ash thousands of metres into the sky - does not pose any danger to
islanders.
The
eruption is about 10km from the southwest coast of Tonga's main island
of Tongatapu - an area where up to 36 undersea volcanoes are clustered,
geologists said. Scientists sailed yesterday to inspect the volcano.
Coastal
residents said the steam and ash column that appeared on Monday morning
after a series of sharp earthquakes was felt in Nuku'alofa.
"This
is not unusual for this area and we expect this to happen here at any
time," said Tonga's geological service head, Keleti Mafi.
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