FOUR coastal villages in Fiji’s Cuvu District have achieved international recognition under the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Tsunami Ready Programme.
This marks a significant milestone in community-led disaster preparedness.
Cuvu, Yadua, Tore, and Rukurukulevu were officially certified on February 13 after meeting 12 mandatory indicators required under the programme.
The recognition follows months of coordinated work led by Fiji’s Mineral Resources Department and the National Disaster Risk Management Office, with operational and financial support from the International Organization for Migration through the Government of Japan-funded Early Warning Systems Project.
More than 400 residents participated in a full-scale tsunami drill that tested early warning communication, evacuation routes, and response coordination.
A temporary emergency operations centre was established at Geckos Resort in Sigatoka to simulate national disaster procedures, while tsunami information signboards were installed across the district.
UNESCO Programme Officer for Tsunami Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction, Jiuta Korovulavula, said the certification reflects strengthened community resilience beyond compliance.
“Tsunami Ready is for everyone’s protection, and these four communities have demonstrated their commitment by achieving all required criteria to be certified as Tsunami Ready.”
Commissioner Western, Apolosi Lewaqai, urged communities to continue regular drills, warning that preparedness remains critical as Pacific neighbours have experienced devastating tsunami events.
Fiji now has six Tsunami Ready-certified communities, all along the Sigatoka coastal corridor.