Tonga continues its journey towards becoming Tsunami Ready.
NUKU’ALOFA, TONGATAPU- This month the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) was honored to host the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Country Mission in Nuku’alofa.
The mission brought together international tsunami experts from the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC)and the UNESCO Office for the Pacific States, alongside representatives from government ministries, technical agencies, NGOs, and development partners, to strengthen Tonga’s tsunami preparedness and resilience.
The visit was more than just a workshop. It also included technical discussions with the National Disaster Risk Management Office, Tonga Meteorological Services, and Tonga Geological Services, where we reviewed the progress Tonga has made and explored the next steps towards implementing the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme.
As one of the most tsunami-exposed countries in the Pacific, strengthening our early warning systems, preparedness, and community resilience remains a national priority. The knowledge shared, partnerships strengthened, and discussions held over the past few days have laid an important foundation as we begin rolling out the Tsunami Ready Programme in Tonga.
A sincere mālō ‘aupito to Dr. Laura Kong, David Coetzee, and Jiuta Korovulavula for sharing their expertise, and to all our government agencies, partners, and stakeholders for their commitment to building a safer and more resilient Tonga.
The journey to becoming Tsunami Ready starts with all of us.
