from high up in space, where the satellites caught the moment the huge underwater volcano let loose, sending a cloud of ash and rock 20 kilometres high and at least 500 kilometres wide. that's an ash cloud that could stretch from london to edinburgh. somewhere beneath it is the tiny island kingdom of tonga. the first thing to hit the island was the shock wave. then came the rushing waters of a tsunami, smashing into sea walls and flooding what here appears to be a church. next, day turned to night as the ash begun to fall. these pictures are reportedly from saturday afternoon as people were trying to flee from the coast. in new zealand, prime minister jacinda ardern said communication with tonga remains difficult. shops along the coast have been damaged and the significant clean—up will be needed. the island is covered in thick film of volcanic dust, but otherwise conditions are calm and stable. the hunga tonga—hunga ha'apai