ICG/PTWS Pacific Islands Countries and Territoris PacWave26 Exercise

Résumé

The experience from the significant tsunami events in 2021-2022 strengthened the importance of regional coordination to address the challenges of a tsunami from any kind of source. Each region can explore ways to further develop their coordination during exercises, which could be through formal platforms such as emails, HF radio, dedicated regional websites for disseminations of messages or automated SMS, as well as through informal fast coordination channels including instant messaging, group chat rooms or mobile applications to simulate handheld transceivers. These informal coordination tools can be a valuable asset to address non-seismic or unprecedented events which do not comply with the requirements of the automated tools.

The PacWave26 Task Team recommends increasing the scenario difficulties to be experienced during the exercise, for example by including non-seismic sources or multiple events scenarios. In such cases, Member States are encouraged to enhance, as needed, local, national or regional cooperation with other geohazard monitoring agencies, such as volcano observatories and volcanic ash advisory centers, to ensure a comprehensive and realistic exercise response.

If necessary, each regional exercise is free to set up its own exercise evaluation form to complement the PacWave26 post-exercise evaluation form. The regional group will handle the post-exercises evaluation, including the compilation and assessment of the exercise, and share its final report to the PacWave26 Task Team.

Pacific Islands Countries and Territories Regional Exercise (imbricated non seismic sources)

With SATREPS collaboration

From 04 November 2026 (23:00 UTC) – 05 November 2026 (0300 UTC)

Live communication Test

Design and carry out a twelfth Exercise Pacific Wave 2026 with the following characteristics:

• An exercise shall be conducted with the aim to test PTWS tsunami service provider arrangements, and Country preparedness arrangements and operational procedures to respond and recover from a destructive tsunami.
• An exercise shall be conducted with the following objectives :

a) Test communications from the PTWS Tsunami Service Providers to Tsunami Warning Focal Points and National Tsunami Warning Centres of Member States.

b) Test national communication and cooperation, and readiness within the country.

c) Test regional communication and cooperation between Member States.

d) Test NAVAREA Live communication from PTWC to each NAVAREA coordinator.