Disasters in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has rugged terrain, dispersed islands and many remote communities. Coastal and island areas face tsunami and storm-surge exposure. The Highlands face earthquake, landslide, flood and drought risks, while volcanic risk is especially high in East and West New Britain, Bougainville, New Ireland and other volcanic regions. About 17% of the population lives within 30 kilometres of a volcano. The 2018 Highlands earthquake affected more than 3 million people and caused approximately 148 million US dollars in damage according to NDC reporting. The National Disaster Centre (NDC) is the established national disaster-coordination body and is currently assigned to the Ministry of Defence. The National Disaster Committee supports national preparedness, the National Emergency Plan, relief coordination, international assistance, emergency resources and relief stockpiles. The NDC conducts surveillance, training, public awareness, hazard mapping, risk assessment, information and communications work, incident reporting, assistance assessments and recovery coordination. A proposed National Emergency Management Authority, or NEMA, should not be treated as an established replacement for this system. Provincial Disaster Committees and Provincial Disaster Offices or Centres handle provincial hazard assessment, preparedness, awareness, contingency planning and integration of disaster risks into development planning. The Provincial Disaster Coordinator provides the committee secretariat. Provincial members commonly include the Provincial Administrator, police commander, Works and Supply representatives, Health, Provincial Affairs and other relevant authorities. Local police, health services, public works, community leaders, churches, non-governmental organizations and civil-society groups often provide the practical response closest to the affected community. Preparedness policy includes the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework 2017–2030, which follows the Sendai approach and seeks to reduce deaths, affected people, economic losses and damage to critical infrastructure. The National Disaster Management Plan 2012 remains an NDC working reference. The Climate Change and Development Authority's National Adaptation Plan 2022–2030 addresses sector and provincial adaptation, with agriculture, health, transport and infrastructure among its priorities. A household plan should identify meeting places, safer areas, evacuation paths, communication methods and support for people who may need assistance. A basic kit should contain water, food, first-aid supplies, a light, spare batteries, clothing, medicines and copies of essential documents. The PNG National Weather Service, abbreviated PNGNWS, provides official meteorological and hydrological observation, forecasts and warnings, including weather and ocean information. A public warning map is available, but a fully integrated multi-hazard early-warning system that reaches every part of the country equally has not been established. Volcanic information is provided functionally through the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory, known as RVO, and Geohazards Management. Tsunami information can involve the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory and the NDC. Local warning time can be very short. A strong or long-lasting earthquake, an unusual withdrawal or rise of the sea, or a loud ocean roar can be a natural tsunami warning. Anyone near the coast should move inland or to higher ground immediately, preferably to about 20 metres above sea level where local conditions make that level suitable, and remain away from the shore for several hours while following radio and official instructions. This guidance does not provide one guaranteed height or waiting period for every coastline. Floods, landslides and debris flows require early movement away from low-lying areas, unstable slopes, narrow valleys and blocked drainage. Volcanic evacuation depends on the exclusion area and the hazard information for the specific volcano. The NDC's Community and Government Liaison Division operates a 24/7 Operations Center for communication, logistics and coordination with government, non-governmental, faith-based and civil-society partners. It supports damage and needs assessment, evacuation planning and early recovery. A disaster can be reported through the NDC toll-free number 113. Additional NDC contact details recorded in the research are +675 301 4700, +675 301 4711 and info@pngndc.gov.pg. Communications and transport access vary greatly between islands, the Highlands and other remote areas, so local authorities and community networks remain necessary even when national coordination is active. Formal financial or material assistance normally moves from a Provincial Disaster Committee to the National Disaster Committee with a needs and financial report. An urgent situation can shorten or bypass parts of the review, but assistance is not a general automatic individual entitlement. The Disaster Management Act text describes cost levels of up to K15,000 for a province, above K15,000 to K100,000 with national and provincial sharing, and above K100,000 at national level; these thresholds come from an older legal text and require separate verification before they are used for a current claim. No general national promise of compensation, temporary accommodation or insurance payment is established by the available research. Recovery is coordinated through NDC early-recovery work, partner coordination, provincial reports and requests, and field assessments. The online Disaster Needs Assessment system is currently available to NDC officers. Common recovery priorities include roads and bridges, water, electricity, telecommunications, health, education and transport. Funding and timing depend on the event, the assessment and available resources rather than one uniform national payment deadline. People should follow evacuation and shelter instructions, support vulnerable neighbours, report urgent conditions through available local channels and avoid entering damaged structures or hazard areas until competent authorities provide guidance.