Tonga government hosted commemoration exhibition to mark HTHH volcanic eruption
15 January, 2023. The Governement of Tonga marked the one-year anniversary of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism and Tonga Tourism Authority co-hosted a Commemoration Exhibition on Friday 13 January 2023 and Saturday 14 January 2023 to commemorate this unprecedented event which took palce on the 15 January 2022.
The two-day event endeavoured to showcase the engagements and commitments by all contributing stakeholders, and the response and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai disaster of 2022.
An opening ceremony was carried out on Friday morning 13 January 2023 at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall and was hosted by the Foreign Minister the Hon. Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu and presided over by the Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu as guest of honor, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corp, civil servants and other invited guests.
In his speech, the Acting Prime Minister recalled the the difficult times and the hardships faced by the people of Tonga especially those who directly suffered from the devasting effects left by the tsunami and the ashes brought by the volcanic eruption.
He acknowledged the support that Tonga recieved from overseas countries, international origanizations and development partners and are still ongoing up to the present.
International media were also present at the event.
The exhibition was a success according to the orgainsers and have recieved positive feedbacks from overseas media.
