THE TONGA VOLCANIC EXPLOSION AND THE “CURSED” ZODIAC DEGREE

On 15 January 2022, the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai erupted in a catastrophic event—one of the most powerful in modern times—with its beginnings in late December 2021, escalating into a massive Plinian‑style explosion by mid‑January. The eruption sent an ash and gas plume soaring over 34 miles (55 km) into the atmosphere. The explosion unleashed energy estimated at 5–6 megatons of TNT, and generated shock waves that reverberated through the atmosphere, circled the globe multiple times, and even reached space (Axios).

Human losses were comparatively low given the eruption's magnitude. Official reports cite three confirmed deaths: two Tongan nationals and one British national (DFAT). Some sources mention up to four fatalities, depending on data reconciliation (Australian Humanitarian Partnership). Injuries were reported across the islands—ranging from serious to minor—but exact totals are not universally consolidated in public sources (unosat.org).

The eruption and resulting tsunami and ash quake wreaked massive economic disruption. A World Bank GRADE assessment estimated physical damages at US $90.4 million, approximately 18.5% of Tonga’s GDP (World Bank). Later analyses—including infrastructure, agriculture, and building losses—suggest the total cost may have reached US $182 million (T$421 million), or about 36.4% of GDP (Wikipedia).

Damage was extensive:

• ~600 buildings, including 300 homes, were reported damaged or destroyed (Open Knowledge FAO, Wikipedia).

• Agricultural losses were estimated at T$17.3 million (≈US $7.4 million) (Wikipedia).

• 85% of the population was affected through ashfall, flooding, infrastructure damage, or loss of services (Wikipedia).

• Islands such as Mango saw complete destruction of homes, displacing residents to nearby Nomuka (The Guardian).

• Communications were severely disrupted by the destruction of a submarine cable; while aid began arriving from New Zealand and Australia shortly afterwards, connectivity remained a challenge (The Guardian).

Although the death toll was limited—thanks in part to the eruption occurring during daylight and the generation of tsunami warnings—injuries and displacement were widespread, particularly in remote outer islands.

On the economic front, the damage inflicted by ashfall, tsunami water, and infrastructure collapse deeply affected daily life, agriculture, housing, water supplies, and emergency services across Tonga. With losses estimated to be between 18–36% of GDP, the financial and recovery burden on this small Pacific nation is immense.

Not long before the eruption started, a total solar eclipse took place on the 4th December, 2021. The eclipse path included the Antarctic and parts of the southern hemisphere. The chart for the eclipse is shown using the sidereal zodiac. It was close to the South Node. It took place in the ill-famed 19th degree of Scorpio. The luminaries were parallel Pluto, and quintile Jupiter. Mars was lord of the lunation, as the eclipse occurred in Scorpio, with Pluto being the modern ruler. Mars was conjunct the fixed star Agena, square Jupiter, trine Neptune and parallel Saturn. In terms of local conditions, both Saturn and Jupiter were in the 8th house of death, with Saturn close to its cusp. Jupiter was square the nodes, a critical position. Saturn was applying square Uranus. Gemini was rising, with the Ascendant biquintile Saturn and square Chiron.

The eruption reached a climax on January 15, 2022. Mars, lord of the eclipse, was square Neptune, and this was activated by opposition from the Moon. The Sun had just entered Capricorn and close to conjunction with Pluto.

The Tonga eruption was not the only disaster that occurred at the time. Eclipses have world-wide effects, and not just in the visibility zones. On December 9, 2021, a truck carrying illegal migrants crashed in Mexico with 55 deaths. The following day, a tornado outbreak in the Southern and Midwestern USA killed at least 94 people. On December 16, Typhoon Rai hit the Philippines with major economic damage and loss of lives. The following January, the 23rd, tropical storm Ana killed 115 people in Madagascar, Mozambique and Mozambique.

Eclipses in general, and especially those close to the South Node, were traditional viewed as an ill omen. In this case it also occurred on the 19th degree of Scorpio. The deeming of 19° Scorpio as a “cursed” degree seems to stem from Arabic astrology (Al-Bīrūnī, Abū Ma‘shar), it was reinforced by Bonatti and echoed in the Renaissance through Lilly. It probably derives originally from Babylonian star lore tied to malefic constellations in this part of the sky. In this part of the zodiac we find the M10 Globular Cluster of galaxies, and the star Rastaban (“the Dragon’s Eye”). Could this dragon have the proverbial “evil eye”?