Disaster preparedness equipment will be sent to 13 islands in Tongatapu and Ha’apai, to help communities better respond and cope with the aftermath of natural disasters.
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Results for Natural events
Monday 11 August 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Thursday 31 July 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was felt in Tonga at 2:33 pm this afternoon, 31 July. The earthquake had a depth of 14 kilometers and was located 80 kilometers to the southeast of Nuku'alofa. There is no tsunami threat.
Thursday 31 July 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
No damage has been reported from a tsunami wave that passed through Tongan waters last night. A tsunami warning was cancelled at midnight after the wave was recorded at 30cm in the Niuas and 5-10 cms for the rest of Tonga.
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Thursday 24 July 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In its first-ever ruling on climate, the International Court of Justice (the “World Court”) makes it clear that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions and act with due diligence and cooperation to fulfill this obligation. The legal initiative taken by Vanuatu to the ICJ was inspired by its youth. "This is a victory for our planet, for climate justice and for the power of young people to make a difference," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Tuesday 8 July 2025
Port Vila, Vanuatu
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) issued a groundbreaking advisory opinion on 3 July, regarding the Climate Emergency and Human Rights. Its ruling establishes that countries must protect the climate system as part of their human rights obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights and other relevant human rights law.
Tuesday 17 June 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three earthquakes between magnitudes 6.0 to 6.7 were felt in Tonga during May. They were the largest of 119 earthquakes that occurred within our region during the month.
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Friday 6 June 2025
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Canberra, Australia
Unprecedented Ocean warming engulfed the South-West Pacific in 2024, harming ecosystems and economies, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which highlighted how sea level rise is threatening islands in a region where more than half the population live close to the coast. The State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2024 Report estimated that each year, at least 50,000 Pacific islanders face the risk of displacement due to the adverse effects of climate change.
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Monday 12 May 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A gale warning, heavy rain warning, and flash flood advisory currently remains in force for all of Tonga land areas today, as a low pressure system moves across Tonga. Significant rainfall and strong to damaging gale-force winds were experienced between 9:00am on Sunday, 11 May, to 7:00am this morning, Tonga Meteorological Services reported. For Tongatapu and 'Eua, gales, thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected tonight.
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Monday 5 May 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Continued volcanic steam emissions and discolouration around the Home Reef volcano, are shown clearly in a Sentinel-2 satellite image on Thursday, 1 May, Tonga Geological Services reported today. "The ongoing lava effusion within the vent and intermittent explosive activity are likely to persist."
Tuesday 29 April 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Satellite images of Tonga's Home Reef volcano, taken on 26 April, showed volcanic steam and discolorations around and from the volcano, the Tonga Geological Services reported today.
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Tuesday 29 April 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
During another month of extremely high rainfall in parts of Tonga, the highest 24-hour rainfall was 197.0 mm recorded in Kolovai 3 March.
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Wednesday 16 April 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In a significant step towards enhancing disaster preparedness, the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) has completed its final consultation with District and Town Officers of Tongatapu. This marks the conclusion of the initial phase of a nationwide effort to decentralize Disaster Risk Management (DRM), placing leadership, planning, and decision-making at the village level .
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Monday 31 March 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Following this morning's magnitude 7 earthquake, Nomuka Island in Ha'apai experienced a temporary disruption to both electricity and communications. Nomuka Town Officer, 'Elenoa Moala, told to Matangi Tonga that these services were restored within half an hour after the earthquake.
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Monday 31 March 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
At least 3000 to 4000 people swiftly evacuated from the Nuku'alofa coastal areas to evacuation centres and inland areas in Tongatapu after the tsunami warning was issued last night, likely influenced by lessons learned from the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai event, said NDRMO Director, Mr. Mafua Maka. "Many families quickly moved inland, with some parking in safer, higher areas and staying in their vehicles."
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Monday 31 March 2025
Nuku'alofa,
A strong magnitude 7.0 magnitude earthquake was felt in Tonga early this morning at 1:18 am triggering a tsunami warning and evacuation alert for people in coastal areas. In the capital, civil defence sirens woke families. Some people on coastal areas evacuated inland and to higher ground where they stayed during early hours of the morning.
Friday 21 March 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
During a month of extremely high rainfall in parts of Tonga in February, the highest 24-hour rainfall was 181.9mm recorded in Ha’apai on 15 February.
Friday 7 March 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The government has allocated $1 million to assist 20 families affected by recent flooding in Tongatapu due to heavy rain, the Prime Minister Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke announced at a media briefing today, March 7, at St. George Government Building in Nuku’alofa.
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Wednesday 26 February 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A low pressure system, at the end of Tropical Cyclone Rae, moved out of southern Tongan waters last night, and no longer poses a threat to Tonga. The Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Center was de-activated at 10:00 am this morning, 26 February, by the Tonga Meteorological Services.
Monday 24 February 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tropical Cyclone "Rae" has intensified into a Category 2 system, west of Tonga, and is expected to gradually intensify into a Tropical Cyclone Category 3 in the next 24 hours, moving south southwest. Tonga Met advised at 7:00am today that, “heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong to gale force winds will affect the Niuas, while strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms extend onto Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua.”
Friday 21 February 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A recent eruption at the Home Reef Volcano has produced a significant crater along with large rocks ejected, observed in satellite images taken of the remote island on 8 and 20 February. An ash plume is rising near the vent. Tonga Geological Services Volcano Watch Team warned mariners to stay at least 2 nautical miles away from Home Reef until further notice. Meanwhile, “the volcanic activity poses low risk to the Vava'u and Ha'apai communities,” they stated in a public notice issued at 8:30pm today, 21 February.
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