That epic undersea eruption in Tonga was heard around the region – and recorded and analysed in minute detail, even from space. But a comprehensive communications wipeout cut reporters off from sources for days. So how do they cover a story with almost no access?
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai island’s convulsion was heard around the region and detected all over the world – and also captured in jaw-dropping satellite images showing large chunks of the island obliterated.
They were blasted more than 20 kilometres into the air and dramatic livestream videos from Tonga on 14 January showed some of it coming back down again.
But it was far from clear from those vivid vignettes just how widespread the damage was or how deadly the disaster had been.
And then it all went quiet.
Read more – RNZ:
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