Posted on 18 January 2024
15 January marked two years since the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption caused immense devastation to the Kingdom of Tonga. The biggest explosion of this kind in over 100 years, the eruption triggered a tsunami killing three and leaving thousands homeless and forced to relocate.
Two years on, affected communities are still recovering, with some on the island of Nobuka still awaiting housing. However since the emergency, Tonga has also upscaled their disaster preparedness through early warning mechanisms and public awareness. Tonga conducts regular drills nationwide, has produced clear evacuation maps and is currently implementing the Weather Ready Pacific Programme, to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience.