More than 200 evacuate as unseasonal tides lead to freak floods, Marshall Islands
Over 200 people have been forced to evacuate after freak waves from unseasonal tides sweep across capital city Majuro in the Marshall Islands on Wednesday, November 27, 2019.
Swells averaging 5 m (16 feet) washed debris onto roads, temporarily blocking access to the international airport.
Breaking: Earlier today the town of Jenrok, Majuro, Marshall Islands experienced a flooding that’s affected a number of people. Shelters have been prepared and evacuation is now in progress. The climate crisis is a lived reality here in the Pacific. pic.twitter.com/gMTcVLCAlG
— 350 Pacific (@350Pacific) November 27, 2019
The Marshall Islands Red Cross Society (RMIRC) had set up evacuation centers at two schools. Local churches and mosques also offered help by opening their doors to displaced residents.
Image credit: RMIRC
Image credit: RMIRC
"Red Cross Volunteers assisted families last night in moving them to the shelters at North Delap Elementary School and Rita Elementary. Moving them to safety from high tides," the organization stated.
"High Surf Advisory is still in effect for Thursday and Friday, please plan accordingly."
"The key driver of this current inundation appears to be a large swell which has arrived from a more northerly direction than the typical trade wind swell," climate researcher Murray Ford explained.
"This particular event would be best described as a large swell, meeting a high, but not unusually high tide."
Disaster response teams were expected to finish the damage assessment by Friday, November 29.
Featured image credit: Stephen Clark
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