トンガで火山噴火　酸性雨に警戒呼び掛け

【ヌクアロファＡＦＰ＝時事】南太平洋の島国トンガ当局は２１日、噴火したフンガトンガ・フンガハアパイ山から出ている火山ガスにより、酸性雨が降る恐れがあると警告した。（写真はトンガの首都ヌクアロファ近郊から見たフンガトンガ・フンガハアパイ山から立ち上る噴煙）
　フンガトンガ・フンガハアパイ山は２０日、噴火。トンガ地質サービス（ＴＧＳ）によると、噴煙の高さは１８キロに達した。警察によると負傷者はいない。
　 ＴＧＳは、酸性雨に当たると、肌が荒れたりかゆみが出たり、視界の曇りなどが起きたりする場合があるため、直ちに医師の診察を受けるよう呼び掛けている。
　同山は首都ヌクアロファの北方６５キロの無人島に位置している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/12/23-10:46）

A toxic cloud spewing from an erupting volcano in Tonga could dump acid rainfall across the Pacific kingdom, potentially poisoning drinking water and damaging people's skin and eyes, emergency services have warned.
The remote Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted Monday, sending plumes 18 kilometres (11 miles) into the air, Tonga Geological Services (TGS) said.
Police reported no injuries from the eruption but TGS said late Tuesday that the dust and gas could result in acidic rainfall if mixed with water in the atmosphere.
It advised residents to remove guttering systems from their rainwater storage systems until the all-clear was given.
Symptoms of exposure to acid rain are itchiness and skin irritation, blurry and discolouration of vision if exposed to the eye, it said.
If eyes or skin are exposed to acidic rain, please see a medical doctor or physician for appropriate treatment.
The volcano sits on an uninhabited island about 65 kilometres (41 miles) north of the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.
The volcano last came to life in 2015, creating a new island structure on its caldera.
An aviation code red was issued after the eruption, advising airlines to avoid the area, resulting in Air New Zealand cancelling a flight from Auckland to Nuku'alofa on Tuesday.