Results for Natural events

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory are in force for Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, and 'Eua, the Fua’amotu Weather Forecasting Centre advised this morning, Wednesday 17 January.

Tonga Meteorological Services (MET), forecasts cloudy periods, light showers and mainly fine weather for the next 10 days for Tongatapu and 'Eua. However, for the two Niuas, there is a 50 - 90 per cent chance of rain or heavy showers from 18 - 22 December.

Tonga Red Cross Society (TRCS) this morning donated cash assistance of $500,000 for 632 families who were affected by the 2022 HTHH tsunami, in Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai, in partnership with the Tonga Development Bank (TDB) who will distribute the cash assistance.

Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku acknowledged the multi-million fundings committed by the international community at the Conference of the Parties Climate Summit (COP28), at Expo City Dubai. On his return to Tonga, he said the inclusion of Education and Health on the COP agenda, are two important sectors in Tonga that are heavily impact by climate change.

“If we want to save lives now, and keep 1.5 within reach, the highest ambition COP outcomes must stay front and centre in these negotiations,” the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said at a media briefing at COP28 Climate Sumit, in Dubai, UAE, on Friday 8 December.

The issues of displacement and forced migration, as impacts of climate change, are real concerns for vulnerable developing countries, including Tonga and small Pacific islands, Tonga’s Speaker of Parliament Lord Fakafanua, told a High Level Segment for Speakers, on 6 December, on the side of the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, UAE.

A State of the Global Climate report confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record. Data until the end of October shows that the year was about 1.40 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels, delegates at COP28 heard. Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku and delegates, are in Dubai for the 28th meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28) that runs from 30 November to 12 December.

A gale warning and small craft advisory remain in force for Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters, as Tropical Cyclone Mal moves to the south of Fiji and and moves toward southern Tongan waters. A strong wind warning and small craft advisory remains in force for Tongatapu and 'Eua coastal waters, stated the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Centre advisory at 1:00pm today, Wednesday 15 November.

We are not putting enough money into disaster prevention, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori, said in Nuku'alofa today.