The volcanic eruption on the island of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai, about 30 km (19 mi) south-southeast of Fonuafoʻou island in Tonga, on Saturday 15 January 2022, generated a tsunami that caused damage locally, regionally, and across the Pacific.  This was the first time that the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) responded to a volcano-generated tsunami.  Given that the PTWS is designed for earthquake-generated tsunamis, which cause nearly 90% of the world’s tsunamis, many adjustments were required during the event by the PTWS Tsunami Service Provider (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, PTWC) and Member States.

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