The images show populated areas in the archipelago with heavily damaged or destroyed buildings and homes and at least one island covered with ash.

A station to detect nuclear weapons tests picked up the volcanic eruption in Tonga from Antarctica. Some experts say the blast could be more than 50 megatons, while NASA estimates 6-10 megatons.

It's just one of the ways the world is rallying to help the people of the remote Pacific island nation rebuild.

The eruption severed Tonga's single fiber-optic cable, rendering the Pacific archipelago offline and unable to communicate with the rest of the world. Flights brought bottled water and other supplies.

Researchers who have been studying the volcano since 2015 say it was likely caused by seawater flowing into a chamber filled with magma.

Researchers who have been studying the volcano since 2015 say it was likely caused by seawater flowing into a chamber filled with magma.

Significant damage is being reported on the Pacific island of Tonga and thick ash on an airport runway is preventing aid from arriving.