TONGA-VOLCANO-ISLAND

This view taken on January 17, 2015 from a boat at sea shows a frigate bird (C) flying on the thermals from the new vent as steam and gas rise from the eruption of a volcano, some 65 kilometres (40 miles) northwest of the South Pacific nation Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa. The Tongan volcano has created a substantial new island since it began erupting in December, spewing out huge volumes of rock and dense ash that has killed nearby vegetation, officials said on January 16. The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry said the volcano was erupting from two vents, one on the uninhabited island of Hunga Ha’apai and the other underwater about 100 metres offshore. AFP PHOTO / Matangi Tonga / Mary Lyn Fonua