Volcano creates new Pacific island

A spectacular volcanic eruption off the coast of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean has created a new island and triggered earthquakes and tsunami warnings in Polynesia.

The volcano began erupting on Monday and ejected so much lava that by Wednesday it had formed a new island about seven miles off the coast of Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga. Satellite images revealed the new island enveloped by smoke, and showed a huge raft of pumice floating about two miles north of the eruption.

The eruption also caused earthquakes, including one of 7.9 magnitute that prompted the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre to issue a warning for Tonga and the Pacific states of Fiji, Samoa and Niue - the world's smallest self-governing state, with a population of just 1,400.