Blood-red sea as underwater volcano erupts off Tonga, ash delays flights

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An underwater volcano off Tonga was spewing ash high into the air on Tuesday, causing several carriers to suspend air travel to the South Pacific island nation and turning the surrounding ocean blood red, residents and officials said.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai underwater volcano, located about 65 km (40 miles) north of the capital Nuku?alofa, was sending volcanic ash up to 4,500 metres (14,765 feet) into the air, the Wellington Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) said.