White gaseous clouds rising from the Hunga Ha'apai eruption seen from the Patangata coastline near Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, December 21, 2021. (Photo: AFP)
Part of New Zealand was put under a tsunami warning on Saturday following powerful volcano eruptions in Tonga since Friday.
"We expect New Zealand coastal areas on the north and east coast of the North Island and the Chatham Islands to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a large volcanic eruption at Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'pai in Tonga," New Zealand's national emergency management agency said on Saturday.
It urged people to stay off the beaches and shore areas.
Tonga has already issued a national tsunami warning over the eruption.
