An E-Disaster Early Warning System that will trigger tsunami warnings from Tonga's Meteorological Center to and early warning loud speakers system in the villages of Kanokupolu and Kolovai was commissioned on March 20.

A pilot project in the Pacific, and the first in Tonga, the system was launched by Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala at the Kanokupolu Government Primary School.

The system uses a designated internet protocol radio link broadband circuit and fibre optic e-disaster network to connect the Meteorological Service at Fua’amotu to the two siren systems in Kanokupolu and Kolovai on Western Tongatapu - which have been identified as two tsunami vulnerable areas.

The siren system is triggered by the Meteorological Center through Tonga Communication Corporation's towers in Sopu and Malapo.

The Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano said this was the start of using a state of the art high-tech system in Tonga.

The project could be expanded to cover all risk areas in Tonga for the sake of saving the lives of people against natural disasters. Work was currently unway to extend similar e-disaster systems to the outer islands, including the two Niuas using the medium wave radio link of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, he said.

Vulnerable

The project was designed to mitigate risk against tsunamis in rural areas, while strengthening capabilities of disaster risk management to be more effective and efficient in using ICT to improve national public safety.

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity in Bangkok funded the pilot project with about US$250,000 committed by the Government of Japan for feasibility studies, manufacturing and installations.

A combined project team carried out the work from Japan Radio Co. Ltd, Japan Telecommunications Engineering and Consulting Service, Japan ICT Overseas Volunteers Association and Tonga’s Ministries of Information and Communications, Infrastructure, Lands and Survey, Education and Training among others.