GNS volcanologists are waiting for ash over the Pacific Ocean to clear – so they can fly to Tonga, and get a closer look at the volcano causing it.

Flights between New Zealand and Tonga had been cancelled, due to an ash plume coming from the Hunga Ha’apai volcano.

Head of Volcanology at GNS Nico Fournier says at this stage he can’t predict if there’s going to be another eruption. 

“Because we don’t quite know what’s going on exactly, so in fact two of us are stuck in Auckland at the moment and are waiting for a flight to go to Tonga and provide some help to the government.”

– Newstalk ZB