A Queensland dad faces a gut-wrenching wait after losing contact with his four-year-old son in Tonga as a volcano erupted in the Pacific - with Jacinda Ardern warning anxious families parts of the island had been devastated by a tsunami.
Mosese Sitapa was on FaceTime with his son Elone on Saturday when the tsunami smashed through their home in the South Pacific Ocean.
Despite desperate attempts to contact the little boy and his loved ones the devoted dad has been unable to get through and is still anxiously awaiting an update.
He is just one of the thousands of Tongans in Australia and New Zealand who are struggling to contact family members after a massive underwater volcano erupted.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned families desperate to speak to their loved ones they may face many more sleepless nights as contact with Tonga remains limited
Photos have been posted to social media of children sleeping in tents after being evacuated from their homes (pictured)
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake 65km from Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa caused tsunami waves and extensive flooding up to 10,000km away from the epicentre.
Mr Sitapa said he saw the gigantic waves on social media and tried to warn the toddler over the phone, but his efforts came too late.
'I just talked to him and he kept playing with his toys. It was so sad,' he told 9News.
He hasn't heard from his son or his mother since the earthquake struck, with Tonga remaining largely uncontactable on Sunday.
Lasting eight minutes, the eruption could be heard as 'loud thunder sounds' more than 800km away in Fiji, officials in the capital Suva said.
Mosese Sitapa (pictured) was on FaceTime with his son Elone on Saturday when a once in a lifetime tsunami smashed through their home in the South Pacific Ocean
Monster waves swept through the city forcing residents to race to higher ground as they were hit with ash and small stones falling from the sky.
The effect of the volcanic eruption has been felt in New Zealand, the US, Canada and South America with warnings triggered for Australia's east coast, Fiji, New Vanuatu, American Samoa, Lord Howe Island, Macquarie Island and Norkfolk Island.
In New Zealand, dock was torn apart in a marina at Tutukaka on the North Island on Sunday after waves from the volcanic eruption swept in.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned families desperate to speak to their loved ones they may face many more sleepless nights.
'Communication with Tonga remains very limited. And I know that is causing a huge amount of anxiety for the Tongan community here,' Ms Ardern said.
While so far there has been no reports of injury or death, a full assessment of the situation has been impossible with zero communication available (pictured, the underwater eruption)
The prime minister reiterated the earthquake had caused 'significant damage' with the full extent not completely understood with communication lines still down.
Southern Cross Cable Network, the company that manages the connection, does not know yet 'if the cable is cut or just suffering power loss,' chief technical officer Dean Veverka said.
'The tsunami has had a significant impact on the foreshore on the northern side of Nuku'alofa with boats and large boulders washed ashore,' Ms Ardern said following talks with New Zealand embassy in Tonga.
'Nuku'alofa is covered in a thick film of volcanic dust but
