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Disaster Risk Reduction of Widespread Volcanic Hazards in Southwest Pacific Countries

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

Kingdom of Tonga Republic of Vanuatu Republic of Fiji

Disaster Risk Reduction of Widespread Volcanic Hazards in Southwest Pacific Countries

Volcanic island nations working together to reduce the risk of eruption and tsunami disasters!

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  ICHIHARA Mie
  Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo
- Mr.
  Taaniela Kula
  CEO, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
- Mr.
  Abraham Nasak
  Acting Director General, Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management
- Dr.
  Raijeli Lewatu Taga
  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources

ODA Recipient Country

Kingdom of Tonga ／Republic of Vanuatu ／Republic of Fiji

Research Institutions in Japan

The University of Tokyo, Tohoku University, Mount Fuji Research Institute Yamanashi Prefectural Government

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji : Tonga Geological Services / Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department / Mineral Resource Department of Fiji

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2023

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Mitigating disasters through knowledge of past and present volcanic activity in the southwest Pacific Ocean

The January 2022 eruption of a submarine volcano in the Kingdom of Tonga and the following tsunami had a global impact, and highlighted the importance of monitoring, forecasting, and countermeasures for volcanic activity in the ocean areas around islands. This project aims to elucidate the history and characteristics of volcanic eruptions and tsunamis in the southwest Pacific Ocean, and to develop techniques for understanding current volcanic activity. Tonga, Fiji, and Vanuatu will collaborate to utilize these technologies to mitigate disasters. The island countries work together, discussing and building improvement measures on the problems of human resource shortages and disaster countermeasures.

The establishment of a trilateral collaboration platform to mitigate the risk of wide-area volcanic eruptions and tsunami disasters

New knowledge and observation technologies will be created concerning volcanic eruptions in island and sea areas where observation data and understanding are limited. The outputs will be applicable to volcanoes in island and sea areas in Japan and the world. In addition, the issue of limited human resources in island countries will be overcome through regional collaboration, and a sustainable human resource development system will be built.

Photo gallery

A gigantic rock believed to be a Tongan tsunami boulder. Some people believe that the tsunami was caused by the eruption of the Kuwae Volcano in Vanuatu. This is one of the research subjects of this project.

Volcanic geological survey on Tanna Island (Vanuatu). A local leader is being briefed on the survey. The ash-emitting Mt. Yasur volcano can be seen in the background.

The international kick-off conference held in Fiji (Nadi City). In addition
to Japan and the partner countries, international organizations such as
UNESCO and experts from New Zealand and the U.S. participated on
site or online.

Research Project Web site

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Press Release

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Disaster Risk Reduction of Widespread Volcanic Hazards in Southwest Pacific Countries