Results for Natural events

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains in force for Ha'apai land areas tonight as a trough lies over Ha'apai and is approaching Vava'u tonight.

An upgrade to Tonga’s Seismic Network will cover five strategically positioned stations at Nukuhetulu, Tongatapu; Mt. Talau Vava’u; Hihifo, Ha’apai; Niuafo’ou High School, Niuafo’ou; and Hihifo. Niuatoputapu, where upgrades to infrastructure will help to better monitor and detect earthquakes. The work is being funded by the World Bank through the Pacific Resilience Program (PREP).

Two years on, very few tourism businesses have recovered from the impact of the HTHH volcanic eruption and tsunamis that hit Tonga in January 2022. At the time, it was forecast that the disruption to tourism would be felt for at least two years, but now it is clear that it will take much longer for the industry to bounce back after the multiple shocks of recent years. "Recovery is rather slow," says Ministry of Tourism CEO, Viliami Takau. But he is determined that Tonga can build back tourism better.

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.