Niue is under a yellow alert for
an imminent threat of drought.
Niue’s disaster
management ffice says wildfires have already happened in
several areas – Tualihega, Kavata, Paluki, Tumau-Alofi, Liku
and Hakupu.
The government said water infrastructure
and plantations have been damaged.
“The decision
follows a series of fire incidents that have resulted in
damage to critical water infrastructure and plantations,
while also placing homes, property, and essential services
at significant risk.”
The National Disaster Council
has assessed that the threat has moved beyond a potential
hazard and now requires immediate protective action,
including a total burn ban.
It said there was an
“extremely high” fire risk in Niue.
Meanwhile, the New
Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has provided a 4WD firefighting
truck and equipment.
The C-130 aircraft also brought a
Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) team, personal
protective clothing, and drone mapping equipment with
thermal imaging capability.
FENZ national commander
Megan Stiffler said the New Zealand contingent will provide
training and technical advice to Niue firefighting staff to
help them manage wildfire risks.
The NZ High
Commission in Niue said the FENZ team would provide
specialist technical advice, operational planning, and
logistical support to help manage ongoing wildfire risks,
and will also support recovery efforts and strengthen Niue’s
future fire management capability and
resilience.
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“This work is especially important as El
Niño forecasts indicate that dry conditions in Niue will
likely persist in the coming months, with the risk of
bushfires remaining elevated.”
El
Niño is underway in the Pacific, bringing dry
conditions to several areas.
The Tonga Meteorological
Service has declared
drought across all major islands that make up the
kingdom, including Tongatapu, Niuatoputapu, Ha’apai and
‘Eua.
The World Meteorological Organisation said
sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical
Pacific are forecast to increase to record levels during
October-November-December
2026.
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