Disasters, Conflicts and Migration 

Natural Disasters 

Type	Occurs	Comments / Details
Drought	Yes	Severe droughts have occurred in 2016 due to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
Earthquakes	Yes	Severe earthquakes hit Tonga in 2009 (8.1 magnitude), 2013 (7.4 magnitude) and 2014 (7.1 magnitude) with some damage to the infrastructure and communities.
Epidemics	Yes	COVID-19  At the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, most PICTs implemented rapid border closures and throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PICTs remained relatively free from the direct impacts of the virus. The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Tonga on 29 October 2021 with a traveller who tested positive in quarantine. Several more cases were found in January and February 2022 in a minor outbreak during the aftermath of the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami as other countries delivered aid.     Measles Outbreak: The measles outbreak in Tonga began in October 2019. By 5 January 2020, there were 612 confirmed cases of measles.    Tonga is at risk from emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases, like TB, SARS, Zika and avian influenza (HPAI H5N1)
Extreme Temperatures	Sometimes	Recently Tonga experienced heat stress due to increased surface temperature.
Flooding	Yes	No specific flooding, though low-lying areas are subject to severe ponding of water when large rainfall occurs generally during wet season which affects the population, agriculture and transport sectors and poses health risks
Insect Infestation	Yes	As for all Pacific Islands countries, pests and diseases pose a huge danger to Tonga’s environment
Mudslides	No	N/A
Volcanic Eruptions	Yes	The eruption of the undersea Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano on 15th January 2022 at around 5.15pm generated a powerful tsunami with the wave reportedly up to 10m high. A tsunami wave of 1.2-2 m high hit the capital Nuku’alofa on Tongatapu Island, situated about 65 km south of the volcano. The ‘Eua and Ha’apai Island groups were also badly hit by the tsunami. The tsunami waves and flood water completely swept away houses and infrastructure in many small outer islands, especially Mango and Fonoi in Ha’apai and ‘Atataa in Tongatapu. Mass evacuations took place across Tonga, especially in the coastal areas in Tongatapu, ‘Eua and Ha’apai. Island groups of Vava’u and the two Niuas - Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou - were not directly affected but indirect effects such as shortage of fuel and consumer goods due to transportation and communication breakdown have been witnessed.  There is an active volcano on the island of Niuafo’ou. The last major eruption was in 1946, when the island was completely evacuated.
High Waves / Surges	Yes	Many low-lying areas have a high exposure to inundation. The most severe inundation occurred during Cyclone Isaac in 1982 where a storm surge of about 1.6m acted on top of a high spring tide. Tsunami risk in Tonga is rated as “extreme”.  Tonga lies about 200km west of the Tonga Trench fault zone, where the Pacific Plate sub ducts beneath the Australian Plate.   Sea level rise has also increased by 0.007 m per year since 1993.
Wildfires	Yes	Significant fire events in countryside are related to droughts / dry season.
High Winds	Yes	Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita was the most intense tropical cyclone to impact Tonga since reliable records began. The second named storm and first major tropical cyclone of the 2017–18 South Pacific cyclone season, Gita originated from a monsoon trough that was active in the South Pacific in early February 2018.    There is an increasing trend in the occurrences of tropical cyclones in Tonga on a decadal basis. In January 2014, Tropical Cyclone Ian tracked between Fiji and Tonga for several days before intensifying to a Category 5 system with winds over 200 kilometres per hour.
Other Comments
Man-Made Issues
Civil Strife	Yes	The Nuku’alofa riots started on 16 November 2006, in the Tongan capital to protest the slow progress democratization in the country. A mixed crowd of democracy advocates took to the streets in protest. Some people in the crowd starting tipping over cars then progressed to looting and burning buildings. The state of emergency was maintained until August 2008 due to continued state of danger in central Nuku’alofa.
International Conflict	No
Internally Displaced Persons	Yes	The HTHH volcanic eruption and the consequent tsunami waves which hit Tonga in the evening of 15 January 2022 resulted in the displacement of about 2,390 people and 465 households. About 54.41% of affected households live in Tongatapu, 30.54% in Ha’apai Islands, and 15.05% in ‘Eua.
Refugees Present	No
Landmines / UXO Present	No
Other Comments

 

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile. 

 

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities 

Seasonal Effects on Transport 

Transport Type	Time Frame	Comments / Details
Primary Road Transport	Nov – April	Paved and sealed road are generally OK to go through during the wet season. Nevertheless, rain on the main roads could make driving a hazard. During the wet season, floods, flash floods and landslides may happen, resulting in roads or crossroads closures, particularly in coastal areas and low-lying areas of the hilly islands.
Secondary Road Transport	Nov – April	The secondary roads network is often not in a perfect condition and may be quickly affected by rainfall, making it impracticable overnight. During the wet season, floods, flash floods and landslides may happen, resulting in roads or crossroads closures, particularly in coastal areas and low-lying areas of the hilly islands.
Rail Transport	Nov – April	No rail transport available
Air Transport	Nov – April	Generally reliable all over the year. Heavy rain falls / cyclones may impact the air transport operations, resulting in delays, flights cancellations and temporary airports/airstrips closures. The secondary airstrips may be impracticable during the wet seasons.
Waterway Transport	Nov – April	Inter-island waterways transport may be affected during the wet / cyclonic seasons due to effects of high winds and rough seas.

 

Main seasonal effects on transport are climatic, occurring during the wet season, November through until April, when roads are subject to flooding and damage due to heavy rain, particularly in coastal areas. This may result in closing access to villages and small towns. 

Flash flooding in low-lying areas of the hilly islands may make movement hazardous. 

During this period inter-island sea transport may also be disrupted due to the cyclonic effects of high winds and rough seas. 

Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling 

Activity Type	Time Frame	Comments / Details
Storage	Nov - April	During the wet / cyclonic seasons, days of torrential rain may flood roads, cut power and water supplies, limit access to transport and storage infrastructures, impacting handling / packaging operations and making access of manpower problematic.
Handling	Nov – April	As above.

 

Seasonal effects are weather related issues due to heavy rains and high winds during cyclone season (Nov – Apr) disrupting transport by both road and sea, resulting in loss of access to storage facilities and manpower. 

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response 

GOVERNMENT 

Disaster Risk Management Bill 2021 

Tonga is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world with many hazards predicted to intensify with climate change. The Emergency Management Act 2007 (Act) provides the legal framework for all emergency and disaster risk management policies, procedure and programming in Tonga. 

The National Disaster Council (Cabinet) is the highest governing body with three national committees providing governance support: the National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC), the National Emergency Operation Committee (NEOC), and the National Recovery Committee (NRC). The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) serves as a secretariat for emergency committees together with the Act. The Act mandates Tonga to develop emergency management plans at national, district (islands) and village level which would then become the governing document for emergency and disaster risk management in Tonga. Emergency management plans are ‘live’ documents to be reviewed each year to accommodate the new and changing environment in Tonga. 

The Disaster Risk Management Bill of 2021 was gazetted in July 2023. The DRM Bill 2021 is a Bill for an Act to make provision for emergency management in Tonga. The purpose of the Disaster Risk Management Act 2021 is to establish a coherent legal, institutional, and regulatory framework for – 

1. planning and management of disaster risk reduction and preparedness activities before a disaster occurs; 

2. coordinating emergency response during a disaster; and 

3. facilitating disaster recovery work following a disaster. 

The Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) is responsible for climate resilience and disaster risk management in Tonga. The National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) (formerly the National Emergency Management Office) is embedded within the MEIDECC and responsible for the coordination of risk reduction and emergency management activities in Tonga.  

Other key emergency management actors include line ministries, and first responders (including the Tonga Police, Tonga Fire & Emergency Services, and His Majesty’s Armed Forces - Tonga, Tonga Red Cross Society), humanitarian organisations, church and faith-based organisations and various utility corporations. 

Part I Section 7 (2) stipulates. 

“Where the laws of the Kingdom do not provide for the declaration of a state of emergency in a situation listed in subsection (1)(a) to subsection (1)(f), the Prime Minister may, with the consent of Cabinet, declare a state of emergency under this Act and identify the lead agency to be at the forefront of response activities.” (Disaster Risk Management Act 2021, page 14)  

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List  

HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY 

Disaster Risk Management Act 2021, Part XI 

PART XI – FACILITATION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE  

92 Regulations for facilitation of international assistance  

The Minister shall make regulations for the facilitation of international assistance for disaster response and recovery to the Kingdom under this Act.  

93 Consultation with relevant stakeholders  

The Ministry shall consult with relevant stakeholders for the development of regulations in section 92, in particular –  

(a) key Government Ministries and governing bodies under this Act;  

(b) development partners.  

(c) Tonga Red Cross Society.  

(d) faith-based and non-government organisations; and  

(e) to the extent possible, Tongan diaspora. 

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agency Contact List 

 

The Tongan Government structure has single desk Ministries and Ministries with multiple portfolios. In cases where the portfolios are grouped, these are headed by the Chief Executive Officers who report to the relevant Minister. 

Ministry Of Finance and National Planning  

Considers economic and financial needs of country guided by Tongan Strategic Framework Vision using the National Infrastructure and Investment Plan (NIIP) 

Ministry of Meteorology, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) 

• Overseas disaster management planning and coordination. 

• The Department of Communications, under this Ministry (MEIDECC), is the party responsible for licensing relating to frequencies, and importation of telecommunications equipment. The Kingdom of Tonga is a party to Tampere Convention via accession. The Tampere Convention provides concessions relating to the importation of telecommunications equipment during disaster times. 

• In October 2015, the Tongan government passed the new Communications Bill 2015 (Communications Act 2015 and the Communications Commission Act 2015) which gave increased powers to the government in regard to controlling internet access.  

Ministry of Revenue and Customs  

• Responsible for tax revenue collection and customs administration for the Government of Tonga to fund the services to the people of Tonga. The Ministry is also responsible for border security and trade facilitation. 

• Tonga is involved in the following trade agreements; Pacific Agreements for Closer Economic Relations, South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-0peration Agreement, African, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP)-European Union (EU) Partnership Agreement. Tonga is a member of the following organisations World Trade Organisation (WTO), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), G77, United nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) 

Ministry Of Infrastructure  

• Amalgamation of the former Ministry of Transport and Works Civil Aviation Division (CAD) responsible for: 

• Ensuring industry compliance with aviation legislation; and 

• Ensuring that roads are designed, constructed and maintained to internationally recognized standards and specifications that have been approved and adopted by Mol. 

The Marine and Ports Division responsibilities include: 

• Maritime Safety and Security Unit 

• Maritime Environment Unit 

• Outer Island Ports Unit 

• Administration Support Unit 

Civil Engineering Division (CED) provides systems of rules regulation, policies and enforcement to guide safe, secure, affordable, sustainable and environmentally sound engineering works on major infrastructure in Tonga. 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs 

Combines the Ministry of Training Employment, Youth and Sports (MOTEYS) with the District/Town Officer Department. The Ministry of Internal Affairs consolidates the policy and many of the delivery functions related to social and community development including: 

- Promotion of women's rights and gender issues; promotion and protection of culture; 

- Development of youth and sports; 

- Management of seasonal work schemes; 

- Development of local government capacity and engagement with Government as well as the management of District Development Committees. 

The Ministry will complement the efforts of other Ministries to promote strong inclusive communities in meeting their service needs and ensuring equitable distribution of development benefits. 

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.3 Laboratory and Quality Testing Company Contact List