WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Pacific nations and humanitarian organizations struggled Sunday to communicate with Tonga after a tsunami triggered a large volcanic eruption disrupted telephone and internet connection. This raised concerns about the nation.

On Saturday, an underwater volcano in Tonga caused tsunami warnings, evacuation orders, and flash floods on Tonga’s shores.

The Internet and telephone lines were down around 6.40 pm local time Saturday leaving 105,000 island residents virtually without contact.

Jacinda Archern, Prime Minister of New Zealand and located 1,481 miles north of Tonga said, “The photographs of the volcano eruption in close vicinity to Tonga is hugely concerning.”

“Communication has been hard due to the eruption,” she stated. However, her defense force team and Ministry of Foreign Affairs work as they speak to identify what is needed and how they can assist.

According to the New Zealand Foreign Ministry, there are no reported deaths or injuries yet. However communications were very limited.

Ardern will speak to the media at 3.30 p.m. New Zealand Time (0200 GMT), in order to update the public on the current situation.

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC), Pacific Office, Suva, Fiji, it is monitoring the situation and has not received any updates about casualties or damages.

Tongan churches of New Zealand offered prayers to their relatives back home.

“We ask God to help us in these difficult times. Radio New Zealand reported that We pray for everyone’s safety …,” Maikeli Atiola (Secretary of the Wesleyan Church of Tonga) said.

The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano has erupted regularly over the past few decades but Saturday’s eruption was so loud that residents parts of faraway Fiji and New Zealand said they heard it.

Satellite imagery captured Saturday’s volcanic eruption. The explosion sent smoke plumes into the atmosphere, approximately 12 miles above sea level.

Tonga’s sky was made darker by the ash.

Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific by Japan and the United States, urging residents along their Pacific coasts to avoid the tsunamis.

Australia issued a marine tsunami warning for the New South Wales coastlines, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, and said local beaches along the state’s coast have been closed. New Zealand also issued a tsunami advisory.