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Problem: The undersea Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted on 15 January 2022, causing a tsunami that affected Tonga as well as other countries around the Pacific rim. Tonga's international borders were closed at the time due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, but clinical surge support was needed to respond to this disaster. Context: Tonga's Ministry of Health formed the Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) in 2018 to provide clinical care and public health assistance during disasters, outbreaks and other health emergencies. TEMAT was activated for the first time in January 2022 to respond to medical and public health needs following the eruption and tsunami. Action: On 16 January 2022, a five-person TEMAT advance team was deployed to conduct initial damage assessments and provide casualty care. Subsequently, TEMAT rotations were deployed to provide clinical care and public health support across the Ha'apai island group for over 2 months. Outcome: TEMAT deployed to the islands most affected by the volcanic eruption and tsunami within 24 hours of the event, providing emergency clinical, psychosocial and public health services across four islands. TEMAT reported daily to the Ministry of Health and National Emergency Management Office, providing critical information for response decision-making. All TEMAT actions were documented, and an after-action review was conducted following the deployment. Discussion: TEMAT's deployment in response to the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami highlighted the importance of national emergency medical teams that are prepared to respond to a range of emergency events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Introduction: The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) volcano and tsunami in early 2022. The HTHH volcano erupted violently on January 15, 2022 triggering a tsunami that struck many of Tonga's 169 islands.1 84% of the country's population was affected.2 Tonga's undersea internet cable was cut, stopping most communication. At the time of the eruption/tsunami, Tonga was COVID-19-free with its borders effectively closed, forcing reliance on national emergency resources, including TEMAT. Objectives: Describe TEMAT's response to the 2022 HTHH volcano eruption and tsunami. Method/Description: TEMAT deployed four rotations of clinical and public health teams in response to the eruption/tsunami. Team members included clinicians from the Ministry of Health, with logistics support from His Majesty's Armed Forces. TEMAT carried out emergency assessments, facilitated medical evacuations, aided in the evacuation of an entire island's population, and provided essential health services. Results/Outcomes: From January 17 through March 4, 2022, TEMAT cared for 381 patients including patients with non-communicable diseases (>50), psychosocial complaints (39), communicable diseases (27), and traumatic injuries (13). The team supported five referrals to higher level care, conducted patients home visits, aided in health center repairs, and responded to a boat sinking during their deployment. Conclusion: TEMAT's deployment demonstrates that deployment-ready and self-sufficient national EMTs are essential for response to sudden-onset disasters in vulnerable countries. A trained and well-prepared national EMT can respond independently, quickly, and effectively to emergencies, despite limited resources and high-impact events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]