The Latest Breaking News from Tonga

The Queen has said her “thoughts and prayers” are with those in Tonga who have been affected by a huge volcanic eruption.

Tonga’s eruption and tsunami highlights the significant threat from offshore volcanoes, Dr Simon Barker writes.

In a message to the nation’s monarch Tupou VI, the Queen said she was ‘shocked and saddened’ by the eruption.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth send condolences to the king of Tonga after a huge volcanic eruption triggered a tsunami and smothered islands in ash.

Officials say it will be ‘lucky’ if repairs to undersea communications cable are completed within a month

Lisala Folau was swept out to the sea when the tsunami hit the small Atata island on Saturday

The Tongan flag-bearer has yet to establish contact with his father

The 38-year-old viral Tongan flag-bearer has been personally affected, is yet to establish contact with his father

As the massive undersea Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted on Saturday, Tongans from around the world gazed on as their relatives livestreamed images of the billowing clouds of ash, gas and steam emerged from beneath the depths

A Tongan journalist describes the deafening explosion of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano and people fleeing inland to escape the tsunami that followed in its wake.

The first humanitarian flights departed for Tonga early Thursday, carrying much-needed aid supplies to the volcano and tsunami-devastated Pacific island nation. "A C17 Globemaster left from Amberley Airport Base around 7 am today (2000 GMT)," an Australian defense official told AFP.