Recent Natural Disasters | Calamities | Hazards

January 14, 2020: A storm in the Pacific is expected to become a tropical cyclone 'Tino' by Wednesday or Thursday. A tropical disturbance is located 1,670 km to the north-west of Fiji or 760 kilometres west-northwest of Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. The system is expected to intensify into Tropical Cyclone Tino on 15 January 2020. Warnings are being issued in Fiji and Tonga with fears both islands are in line to be directly hit by a tropical cyclone. The system is anticipated to enter Fijian waters on January 17, 2020.

January 1, 2020: Tropical Cyclone Sarai caused minor damage on Tonga 's main island, Tongatapu, with flooding in areas with poor drainage and damages to the trees. According to Mafua Maka, Director of National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), Tropical Cyclone Sarai damaged the banana and hoppa trees and causes the falling of  power lines, particularly around Hihifo.  Tropical Cyclone Sarai has now been downgraded to a low pressure system as it moves Southeast. The Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Center was officially deactivated at 12pm today. At 10 am morning today, Tropical Cyclone Sarai was located about 380km East-Southeast of Pangai, Ha’apai, 400km South-east of Neiafu, Vava’u, 430km East of ‘Ohonua, ‘Eua, 450km East of Nuku’alofa and about 600-700km Southeast of the Niuas. However, a strong wind warning remains in-force for the Niuas, Vava’u, Ha’apai, Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Tele-ki-Tonga and Tokelau land areas and coastal waters. Main Post: Recent Nat

February 27, 2019: Tropical Cyclone Pola has been upgraded to a severe category 3 system as it continues to move south southwest between Tonga and Fiji. Tropical Cyclone Pola is currently a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone, based on the Fiji tropical scale, with winds equal to a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean. Recommended Post:  Natural Disaster Insurance Covered $90B Losses in 2018 According to the Tonga Met Service, a storm force wind warning remains in force for Tele-Ki-Tonga and Tele-Ki-Tokelau and a gale warning remains in force for Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua. Tropical Cyclone Pola is currently located 275km west northwest of Nuku'alofa, moving south-southwest at 20km/hr.

A large new island has been formed at the eruption site between Hunga Ha’apai and Hunga Tonga, 65 km from Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said. The volcano has been erupting from two vents, one on the uninhabited island of Hunga Ha'apai and the other underwater about 100 metres offshore. The new island is more than one kilometre wide, two kilometres long and about 100 metres high.

Severe tropical cyclone Ian has claimed life of at least one person and caused huge damage in Ha'apai islands of Tonga. Cyclone Ian claimed life of a person on Lifuka island in the central Ha'apai of Tonga, The Australian reported quoting Tonga emergency officer. Several houses are flattened and power lines are downed in the area. The extent of the damage is not clear, but Ha'ano and Foa Islands are believed to be badly affected. A state of emergency has been declared in Vava'u and Ha'apai. The Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Center had issued a hurricane warning for the Vava'u group in Tonga . The government of Tonga also held an emergency meeting and activated the emergency operation centers. Cyclone Ian which formed on 2 January 2014 affected Fiji and Tonga. Original post: Natural Disasters List January 12, 2014

A hurricane warning has been issued for the Vava'u group in Tonga following tropical cyclone Ian, the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Center said in its latest update. Tropical cyclone Ian updates issued at 4:30 Am Friday morning (January 10, 2014) has kept Ha'apai and Niuafo'ou under gale warning. A storm alert remains in force for the Ha'apai group. Similarly, a tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Tongatapu and 'Eua. Severe tropical cyclone Ian, a category four storm was located 170 km South-SouthWest of Niuafo'Ou and 295 km NorthWest of Vava'U at 1:00 AM Friday morning. Following current track, Tropical cyclone Ian is predicted to bring destructive storm force winds to the Vava'U group in the next 12-18 hours followed by a very destructive hurricane force winds in the next 18-24 hours. The government of Tonga held an emergency meeting and is currently monitoring the cyclone. The Emergency Operation Centres have been activated.