Report finds importance of preparing for disaster key to Tonga's response two years on from the 1-in-1000-year eruption and global tsunami.
The original blog in its format can be found here.
"Look at the sea, look at the sea, something is wrong with the sea! We were looking at ash clouds, but this happened before the big bang...before the sound". Hiva Vaitohi, a resident of Tonga who witnessed the unprecedented eruption and subsequent tsunami in 2022
On January 15, 2022, the Hunga Volcano unleashed a sudden and explosive eruption, causing destructive tsunami waves that reached Tonga's capital of Tongatapu within minutes. The tsunami wave ripped across ocean basins globally and was blamed for the death of two people as far as Peru. The colossal ash plume blasted 30km into the stratosphere, triggering sonic booms heard as far away as Alaska.
The preceding day, ominous signs manifested across the outer islands in Tonga, with communities on alert and recognising unusual activity. The islands of Fonoi and Mango were being impacted by ash dust clouds, sulphur odours, explosive sounds, and abnormal tides. Responding to these signs, the Tonga Meteorological Service (TMS) issued a Tsunami Marine Warning on January 14th.
The following day, recognising the continuous signs and drawing from the prior day's experience, Tonga's TMS issued another and more urgent Tsunami Warning at 5:21 pm on the 15th of January, urging people to evacuate inland. This message was conveyed in Tongan and sent out via various networks before the destructive eruption, and waves severed the country's internet cable. This unprecedented event emphasised the importance of preparing for disaster with localised messages and tailored approaches to ensure communities know what action to take in times of crisis.
Hiva Vaitohi's house was destroyed by the tsunami. She recalls the day and the signs leading to the disaster.
"We were just running for our lives. We didn't know the outcome and what will happen". Hiva, like many others, lost her belongings in the blink of an eye.
The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery reported that 600 buildings, including 300 homes, were damaged or destroyed by the tsunami, with a damage estimate of US$43.7 million.
We need to understand undersea volcanoes
This disaster has shown the need for more understanding of undersea volcanoes and their behaviour, which little is known about globally.
To mark the tsunami event, the Pacific Community (SPC) and UNESCO are releasing the latest Field Survey of Runup and Inundation in Tonga from the January 2022 eruption of the Hunga Volcano report, sharing the field observations, critical tsunami measurements, videos, photos and stories of that eventful day.
Findings from the report explain that the eruption generated a series of massive tsunamis, causing large-scale destruction along the western shores of several islands in Tonga. It has also found that while the occurrence offered a valuable opportunity for learning about the threat posed by volcanic tsunamis, it should focus on the ongoing necessity to stay vigilant against tsunamis originating from the Tonga Trench Subduction Zone.
Litea Biukoto, SPC's Team Leader for Disaster Risk, said that this report and the stories captured outline how valuable national disaster preparedness is in the region and help us understand the potential for undersea volcanoes to generate tsunamis in the Pacific.
"For the first time, we now have a set of procedures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center for the Hunga Volcano, which will help us understand how to respond if a similar situation unfolds. Investment in this type of science is critical to ensure that we understand the tsunami potential of undersea volcanoes.
The data collected is available to researchers to use and improve our understanding of what happened on 15 January 2022, plus help determine how best our communities and people can be forewarned of similar events," she said. Litea Biukoto, Team Leader Disaster Risk, Pacific Community (SPC).
The report also found the need to increase awareness and education about tsunamis, emphasising the urgency for evacuation campaigns that don't include using cars to get away from the waves. It also found that the use of social media for education was helpful for the community.
Community resilience from the frontline
Understanding how to best develop disaster response that ensures communities are aware of what to do requires understanding how communities responded to the disaster. As part of the report, community engagement and surveys were completed with stories outlining how people escaped the waves and protected themselves and their families from the tsunami.
Moana Paea, the proprietor of Ha'atafu Beach Resort, where some of the worst impact was felt, provides a vivid account of the safe evacuation procedures followed by the community during the disaster. Ha'atafu Beach Resort was a popular spot for families and suffers on the Hihifo peninsula, a narrow strip of land on the west coast of Tongatapu.
This area was one of the most affected where the waves washed completely over the area. On the morning of January 15th, Moana recalls that there were no noticeable surge waves and that it was a ‘beautiful day’. However, there was still a tsunami advisory in place, and radio messages advising people not to swim due to the possibility of unusual ocean activity.
While working in the kitchen, she heard yelling and commotion from the beach, being alerted by staff who were witnessing a ‘gushing of water’ coming into the resort. She immediately thought ‘tsunami’ and yelled for people to get out. According to her account, the first surge came up to the fence line of the property, and then the water retreated.
During that time, they went around the resort to warn guests to evacuate. "I thought this was it. To me, what I felt like is we were chased out by the ocean. Within seconds of us leaving, that's when the big swell came across and wiped out the village".
Thanks to the brave and selfless actions of Moana and her staff, swift measures were taken to ensure the safety of everyone, including all of the guests at the time.
Moana and her team ran behind the resort and evacuated along the road just as the waves started to decimate the resort. After returning, there was nothing left as the resort had taken the full brunt of the waves and been destroyed.
Tita Vinibola, a resident of Kanokupolu on Tongatapu, recalls what started as an uneventful day but turned into a struggle to survive.
" We were wandering the streets, no family, no nothing, no water to drink. We were scared, kids were scared, so we decided to ask for refuge in the fire station. They gave us space there".
Carrying the true Pacific spirit, the Tongan community exhibited remarkable determination and solidarity in supporting each other through post-disaster recovery.
Local residents swiftly mobilised to clear debris, provide shelter, and address immediate needs, showcasing a strong sense of shared responsibility and collective well-being. Community organisations and leaders played a crucial role in coordinating relief efforts, fostering support networks, and facilitating effective collaboration among different groups. The experience of Tonga serves as a powerful example of how determination, solidarity, and community spirit can significantly impact post-disaster recovery.
The Field Survey of Runup and Inundation in Tonga report shares the stories of the resilience of these communities and how preparing for disasters supports community resilience and response after large events occur.
This report, along with the stories of individuals and communities affected by the tsunami, supports a more informed understanding of what to do in the future if the Hunga volcano becomes active. It emphasises the importance of investing in science to understand the region's undersea volcanoes, the potential risks they pose and learning from the stories of those who lived through events.
The report presented here represents a coordinated, collaborative effort led by the Government of Tonga in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), UNESCO/IOC, International Tsunami Information Centre, eCoast Maine Consulting and Research and the University of Auckland.
SPC would like to acknowledge Jose C. Borrero Tsunami and Coastal Hazard Specialist, Adjunct Assistant Research Professor at the University of Southern California's Tsunami Research Centre and all the authors and contributors who participated in creating the report and content.
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