A new studio building for Tonga Broadcasting Commission was commissioned by Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, on the completion of a Nationwide Early Warning System Project (NEWS) on Tuesday, at Fasi-moe-Afi.

The Emergency Siren System was demonstrated at the event on 27 September.

The new studio building and the Nationwide Early Warning System project was funded by the Government and the people of Japan. 

The NEWS project, worth about USD30 million in total, will strengthen Tonga’s capacity for risk management and its resilience against disasters through the improvement of three systems: Emergency Radio Communication System, Early Warning Sound Alert System and Medium Wave Radio Broadcasting System.

“It is a modern system and fully equipped with a purpose and the truth to saving lives wherever and whenever, is required,” said the Crown Prince.

The system would help to protect people from the extreme events of natural disasters and worst impacts of climate change.

"We can just imagine that, that critical moment of crying out for survival. We can save them with this system and this is resilience in facing challenges of our time. 

“I thank the Government and the people of Japan for this kind offer, and also to everyone throughout Tonga and overseas who are joining us at this historical moment."

The Crown Prince said that over 60-years-ago, Queen Salote Tupou III commissioned Tonga’s first radio broadcasting studio called ZCO on 4 July 1961. 

He was accompanied by Crown Princess Sinaitakala. Also present was the Princess Royal Princess Pilolevu Tuita, Lord Tuita and Lord Fakafanua at the event.

Japan

Japan’s Ambassador HE Mr Munenaga Kensaku said is their hope that the NEWS project would become an epoch-making project for Tonga.

He said, unfortunately, even before the historical Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai eruption, it was an indisputable fact that the Kingdom of Tonga is very prone to natural disasters.

“We still remember well Cyclone Gita in 2018 and Cyclone Harold in 2020, both of which caused severe damages to Tonga. Against this background, and having due consultations with the Government of Tonga, Japan decided to provide this general grant aid project, NEWS project, with the agreement signed in May 2018,” he said.

"I am truly delighted to finally celebrate the completion of the Nationwide Early Warning System and Strengthening Disaster Communications Project. A long awaited project for all of us because it was supposed to be completed in August of 2020."

The new telecommunication system of this project covers the whole Kingdom including the the two Niuas.

“This warning system will work, even if the submarine cable is disconnected. In reality the submarine cable is still not yet connected between the islands, however the new system under the NEWS project will work nationwide by way of radio telecommunication network or satellite system.

“On top of that, a more vigilant system is installed through this project. An Early Warning Sound Alert transmission will straightaway reach everyone in Tonga in a very short time compared to before.”

He said in the previous system it took 90 minutes but now thanks to the NEWS system it will only take eight minutes for the warnings to resonate. The coverage of alert is also notably increased from 19% to 100% for the population living in tsunami hazard areas in Tonga.

"Based on our recent experience with the Hunga-Tonga, Hunga-Ha'apai Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami, we believe Tongan people are capable of escaping tsunamis so long as there are advanced warnings. For that, NEWS project will be surely useful and effective."

The Ambassador also hoped all are aware of the Friday siren test of the NEWS network, which started last month.

This test provides a very good chance to raise people’s awareness, to educate students and children about the NEWS project, and prepare them well for future disasters, he said.

Strengthening disaster early warning

Acting Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu said that Tonga is the second-most at risk country in the world vulnerable to natural disasters, as the population spreads over small isolated islands predominantly in low-lying coastal areas, where response efforts are often difficult. 

Vulnerability to natural disasters and the effects of climate changelike weather extremesare expected to increase due to pressures including increased population, and constrained land availability, which will force larger numbers to live in more hazard prone areas. Hence, there is widespread acceptance of the need to strengthen disaster early warning and preparedness, and to mainstream disaster risk and climate change into development planning and financing, he said.

He said with such background, Government requested the Government of Japan’sassistance to improve the speed and stability of information transmission and establishing a wireless communication systemin the event of a disaster

"We thank you Japan for your continued support and assistance at time of needs to saving our people from the adverse impacts of disasters and climate change."