SUVA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The aviation alert level for Tonga's Home Reef volcanic activity has increased to orange as the volcanic activity continued over the past two days.
According to the Matangi Tonga Online news website on Friday, Tonga Geological Services (TGS) said that Home Reef volcanic activity is ongoing with a total of 23 volcanic eruptions over the past two days.
There was one volcanic ash event on Thursday, with the last eruption recorded early Thursday -- mostly steam events. The ash was discovered up to 3 km altitude within 5 km southeast of Home Reef.
The Home Reef island has continued to grow during 25 days of effusive lava flow since Sept. 10 this year. It has a total surface area of 15 acres (six hectares) on Wednesday. The island has steep headlands on the eastern half and smoother slope on the western half. It was measured at 268 meters from north-south to east-west, with a height of 15-18 meters above sea level.
On Sept. 27, the aviation alert level was lowered from orange to yellow.
Meanwhile, the volcanic plume dispersed from the islands has decreased and thinned within 1 km of the island on Sept. 29 this year.
The TGS advised the aviation community to look out and take caution when flying through this airspace.
Home Reef is located 25 km southwest of Late Island, 22 km northeast of Lateiki (Metis Shoal) and 75 km northwest of Mo'unga'one Island.
In January this year, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano near Nuku'alofa, capital of Tonga, erupted violently and triggered a tsunami. ■