Philippine Embassy in Wellington is monitoring the condition of eight hundred Filipinos in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga after volcano eruption

MANILA – The Philippine Embassy in Wellington is currently monitoring the situation of close to 800 Filipinos in Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji after the eruption of an underwater volcano on Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

In a statement Sunday, the DFA said the eruption triggered tsunamis and strong waves reached Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji, and concerned residents are moving to higher grounds.

It added there were disruptions to communication systems in those areas.

“Coordination efforts with local authorities and community leaders are ongoing to ascertain the situation on the ground and the condition of the Filipinos in Tonga (87), Samoa (300), and Fiji (400),” the DFA said.

The volcano erupted for several days. This photo was taken a day before the eruption that caused the tsunami

Meanwhile, tsunami advisories were also issued for the coastal areas of New Zealand, Japan, and the US western states.

New Zealand has sent a plane to Tonga to assess the damage after a huge volcanic eruption triggered a tsunami.

The eruption has covered the Pacific islands in ash, cut power and severed communications.

Up to 80,000 people there could be affected, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) told the media.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the tsunami had wreaked "significant damage".

She said there were no reports of deaths or injuries in Tonga related to the eruption as of Sunday because communication lines -- telephone and internet connection -- in the affected areas were severely damaged.

On Saturday, an underwater volcano off Tonga erupted. The eruption triggered warnings of 1.2-meter tsunami waves. 

People were ordered to evacuate the shorelines in Tonga. (PNA)

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