Pacific tsunami threat recedes as volcano ash cloud covers Tonga

Thick dust over capital Nuku’alofa but otherwise conditions are calm, says New Zealand prime minister

The tsunami threat around the Pacific from a huge undersea volcanic eruption has begun to recede, but the massive ash cloud covering the tiny island nation of Tonga prevented surveillance flights assessing the extent of damage from waves that are believed to have inundated entire towns.

Videos shared on social media after the eruption showed people running for higher ground as the metre-high floods hit coastal areas and made their way inland while the sky darkened with ash. A sonic boom could be heard as far away as Alaska.