On December 20, 2021, the Hunga Tonga– volcano erupted, sending particulates into the stratosphere. A large plume of ash was visible from Nukuʻalofa, the capital city of Tonga, about 70 km from the volcano. A large eruption commenced on 14 January 2022 at 04:20 local time, sending clouds of ash 20 km into the atmosphere. Tsunamis are most commonly caused by earthquakes, while volcanic eruptions are rare. On Saturday 15 January, 2022 the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai underwater volcano in Tonga erupted violently, sending a plume of ash 20 kilometers above the volcano. "This is without a doubt the largest eruption since Mt. Pinatubo in 1991," said corresponding author Scruggs.

According to the government, Tonga faced an "unprecedented disaster" as a result of a massive volcanic eruption that covered the country in ash and 15-meter tsunami waves that destroyed almost all of the homes on two small islands. The Tongan navy had deployed to outlying islands with medical teams, water, food, and tents. According to the first impact report since the disaster, the volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami that hit Tonga last month affected 85,000 people – roughly 85 percent of the population – cost the country $90 million, destroyed or damaged more than 600 buildings, and had a significant impact on crops, livestock, and fisheries. The damage caused by the volcanic eruption, mostly from ashfall, had a greater impact on agriculture than the tsunami, accounting for roughly 80% of the total damage.

According to the report, the combined impact of the volcanic eruption and the tsunami waves wreaked havoc on Tonga's 170 islands. The water supply in the capital is not safe to drink, most people now drink bottled water. Authorities have warned residents not to drink rainwater. Local volunteers were among the first to distribute water and other essential supplies in an effort to reduce the threat of water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhea. Despite the damage to Nukualofa's waterfront, inland regions are said to be mostly undamaged. The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan, and China have all pledged their support. The government described communication between the islands as "an acute challenge" after the eruption damaged the undersea communications cable. Tonga appears to have avoided the widespread devastation that many had predicted, thanks to a "well-functioning" early warning system and successful preparedness efforts.