TS - Grade Report for Tonga Volcanic Eruption

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TS - General Info on Tonga

Responding to the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcanic eruption in Tonga and following a request from

the Government of Tonga, the World Bank undertook a rapid post-disaster damage assessment deploying

the GRADE methodology.1 The objective was to estimate the potential direct damage2 caused by the

tephra fall (henceforth referred to as ashfall) and tsunami resulting from the volcanic eruption, to inform

the Government’s decision-making on financing needs and support development of a roadmap for

recovery and reconstruction. There is considerable uncertainty on the detailed impacts of this event since

communications with Tonga have been severely disrupted by the damage to the submarine fiber optics

telecommunications cable and COVID-19 restrictions that have hampered efforts to carry out ground

assessments. This report is valid as of February 7, 2022.