Giant waves flood key US military base on Marshall Islands, clean-up operation underway

Efforts were underway on Thursday to clean up the aftermath of massive waves that inundated a crucial US military base located on the Marshall Islands in the heart of the South Pacific.

Last weekend, powerful waves battered the US garrison situated on Roi-Namur island in the Kwajalein Atoll, which houses some of America’s most advanced space and missile tracking equipment.

Video footage captured from within the garrison depicted the relentless force of the waves, toppling bystanders, shattering glass doors, and breaking windows.

Approximately 80 out of the 120 personnel had to be evacuated, reported AFP, citing US military. Currently, a team of 60 individuals is on-site, evaluating the extent of the damage and working to restore essential services.

Aerial photographs revealed significant damage to the island’s infrastructure, with several areas submerged in water due to the powerful waves.

“Clearing the runway on Roi-Namur and assessing its safety is our top priority,” AFP quoted garrison commander Colonel Drew Morgan as saying in a statement.

“Once the runway is open, we can move people and equipment back and forth to start the recovery process.”

It could take months to fix the damaged garrison, the US Army said, after seawater swamped the accommodation, dining, transport and entertainment buildings.

The Marshall Islands are a sprawling chain of volcanic islands and coral atolls halfway between Hawaii and Australia.

With inputs from agencies