British Woman Swept Away in Tonga Tsunami While Attempting to Rescue Dogs

The eruption of an underwater volcano off Tonga, which triggered a tsunami warning for several South Pacific island nations, is seen in an image from the NOAA GOES-West satellite taken at 05:00 GMT on Jan. 15, 2022. CIRA/NOAA/Handout via Reuters

Fears are mounting for the safety of a 50-year-old British woman who has been reported missing after being swept away by a 1.2-meter (3.9-foot) tsunami in Tonga on Saturday.

The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha‘apai volcano eruption had caused tsunami waves to hit and flood parts of Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa. No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported as a result of the tsunami so far.