The Tonga Geological Services reported that an eruption at Home Reef was ongoing during 18-25 June. Daily thermal anomalies were identified in satellite images, though the number and intensity of the anomalies were variable. At around 0130 on 21 June an ash-and-gas plume was identified in satellite images drifting SE. Lava continued to expand the SE coastline of the island. The Maritime Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale) and mariners were advised to stay 4 km away from the island, the Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow (the second lowest color on a four-color scale), and the Alert level for residents of Vava’u and Ha’apai remained at Green (the lowest color on a four-color scale).

Geological Summary. Home Reef, a submarine volcano midway between Metis Shoal and Late Island in the central Tonga islands, was first reported active in the mid-19th century, when an ephemeral island formed. An eruption in 1984 produced a 12-km-high eruption plume, large amounts of floating pumice, and an ephemeral 500 x 1,500 m island, with cliffs 30-50 m high that enclosed a water-filled crater. In 2006 an island-forming eruption produced widespread dacitic pumice rafts that drifted as far as Australia. Another island was built during a September-October 2022 eruption.

Sources: Tonga Geological Services, Government of Tonga, Culture Volcan