BREAKING NEWS —- Tinakula Eruption and Tsunami
Early this morning at around 1 AM, Volcano Tinakula, located in the Solomon Islands, had its first eruption since 2017. Though it is a known active volcano, little reconnaissance and checkup have been done, leading to an eruption that surprised both the local population and the greater Pacific region.
Its eruption has caused a grade 5 earthquake (according to the Richter Scale) and the underwater seismic tremors will lead to level VI tsunamis spreading all the way to islands of our country within the next 6 hours. Though they are relatively small-scale tsunamis, reaching only around 2 metres above sea level, there is a chance that they will cause great damages to Kiribati, especially to crucial infrastructure like water-cleaning facilities. This is especially concerning for the Gilbert Islands and Banabas, regions that were already facing the brunt of the harm brought by rising sea levels.
The volcanic ashes have also made any and all aviation in the region impossible, further slowing down relief efforts and transport. Furthermore, sulfur spread by the eruption in the next 2 days will also affect local fishing sources, causing mass deaths of marine life and damages to the marine ecosystem that may harm both the livelihoods of local fishermen and foreign fisheries. At the present moment, we are not sure if the effects of the sulfur will be long-term or only short-term.
This is an impactful emergency and we will wait for responses from our government.
Dated this 25th of March, 2020 --- 06:00
ALANI IOANE
Published by Kiribati Meteorological Service
DR. BETERO
Lead Researcher
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