Tonga: Tsunami Working Group Seeks 24-Hour Service for Radio Tonga

Text of report by Tonga Broadcasting Commission website on 24 April

The Tsunami Working Group of the National Emergency Management Office is calling on Radio Tonga to operate 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

The committee met this morning [24 April] in Nuku’alofa to discuss the draft of Tonga’s response procedures and it was pointed out that there are gaps in the warning system.

The committee agreed that the easiest gap to be filled is for the national broadcaster to be on the air 24-hours to give out the early warning. It was also understood that Radio Tonga One is the only radio that covers the whole of Tonga.

The installation of sirens as a warning system is very costly and the easiest and the most viable is to use Radio Tonga.

The committee will be recommending the National Office to seek funds to cover these areas.

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