Natural disasters

Volcanic eruption forces Tongan thinking about disaster preparedness

The eruption, and subsequent tsunami and ash fall impacted about 85 percent of Tonga’s population, destroyed or damaged more than 600 buildings, and significantly impacted crops.

Paula Ma’u heads up the Tongan Government department that responds to disasters.

He’s stressed the eruption has altered their thinking.

“Most recently of course the unpresented events our country faced in January this year brought our daily disaster risk very much to the foreground,” Mr Ma’u said.

The discussions were part of the Pacific response to disaster displacement project.

Storm cleanup begins after huge swells hit three Pacific nations

Rarotonga and some of the Cook Islands Pa Enua (outer islands) reported record waves and flooding that damaged homes businesses, during a week record visitor numbers had been expected.

Muri Beach Club resort manager Liana Scott said the waves were as high as during a cyclone.

King tides had been forecast to coincide with the storm, but even then the height of the waves and the distance the swell came ashore was a surprise.

Tonga National Emergency Office survey highlights need for better access to airwaves

“It showed that most of the houses did not have a radio for the reason they can’t afford one,” Director of the National Emergency Management NEMO Mafua Maka confirms.

“Radio is the main form of communication between the main island and the outer islands. The information broadcast on radio is to help people prepare before the cyclone makes landfall.”

New disaster messaging system for Fiji

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) launched its 'Find my Evacuation Centre' messaging system on Tuesday, saying disasters such as cyclones demanded a quick response of accurate information from the authorities to the public.

Director Vasiti Soko said the Short Message Service or SMS would be used to deliver communication to Fijians during disasters.

Soko said with the cyclone season on the horizon, the service would help people identify their nearest evacuation centre and also locate the nearest disaster management officials.

With focus on natural disasters, UN risk reduction forum opens in Mexico

“Human and economic losses from disasters cannot continue at current levels if we are going to progress with the Sustainable Development Goals,” the Deputy Secretary-General said at the opening on Wednesday evening.

Held every two years since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to discuss disaster reduction, the 2017 Global Platform – the fifth such event to date – is bringing together some 6,000 Heads of State, policy makers, disaster risk managers, civil society and other participants.