THE REUTERS GRAPHIC-Tonga's apocalyptic lightning storm

FILE PHOTO: The eruption of an underwater volcano off Tonga, which triggered a tsunami warning for several South Pacific island nations, is seen in an image from the NOAA GOES-West satellite taken at 05:00 GMT January 15, 2022. CIRA/NOAA/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) - When an underwater volcano off Tonga erupted last month, it was accompanied by one of the largest volcanic lightning events ever recorded.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic island, about 65 km (40 miles) north of Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga, had been puffing away for about a month before a series of blasts began on Jan. 13.