This is the largest explosion ever recorded by humans on Earth. 😲🌋 On January 15, 2022, an undersea volcano near the Pacific island nation of Tonga erupted with stunning force—producing one of the most intense natural events in modern history. The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption sent ash, gas, and water vapor more than 36 miles into the atmosphere—higher than any volcanic plume ever recorded by satellite. The explosion was so powerful, it generated atmospheric shockwaves that circled the gl