Oceania Regional Network to strengthen early warning systems [1]
Saturday, October 22, 2022 - 14:37. Updated on Saturday, October 22, 2022 - 14:40.
Pacific Island countries aim to strengthen their regional seismic network and find ways to improve their early warning systems and disaster preparedness in the South-West Pacific region, where about 30% of global seismicity is observed and 15% of deadly tsunamis are generated, says Tonga's Ministry of Land and Natural Resources.
The 7th Annual Meeting of the Oceania Regional Seismic Network was held for the first time in Nuku’alofa to strengthen the regional seismic network, on 17-19 October.
This was followed by the 7th Session of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) Working Committee 2 on 20-21 October.
Members from Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and representatives from UNESCO and the Pacific Community attended.
The Ministry of Land and Natural Resources stated on Friday that the PTWS task team is responsible for the Seismic data sharing in the Southwest Pacific, where they issue early warning and back-up gaps in the regional seismic area they manage, especially if seismic stations in some countries are not working.
“Approximately 30% of global seismicity is observed and 15% of deadly tsunamis are generated in the South-West Pacific region.”
CEO for the Ministry of Lands and and Natural Resources, Rosamond Bing recognised the challenges in our multi-hazard early warning systems and preparedness, and the importance of being resilient.
“The Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai (HTHH) volcanic eruption on 15 January 2022, is a reminder of how devastating the impacts can be, not only for Tonga, but to the Pacific Island countries and globally where the impacts were also experienced,” she said.
ORSNET
Senior Geologist of the ministry and co-chair of the ORSNET and Chairman for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System Working Committee 2, Rennie Vaiomo’unga, said it was an opportunity to collaborate with key agencies and partners to strengthen ORSNET to tackle these challenges.
“The expected outcome is to strengthen ORSNET’s seismic monitoring and detection capability and develop a roadmap with practical measures to address key challenges including exploring opportunities for greater visibility,” he said.
The meeting in support of the ORSNET Secretariat was organised through UNESCO and SPC, implementing the Pacific Resilience Project (PREP) and funded by the World Bank.