Massive Waves Damage Army Base in the Marshall Islands

A tremendous weather event caused significant damage to an Army base in the Marshall Islands over the weekend. The incident occurred on Roi-Namur, one of the islands in the Kwajalein Atoll, which is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Videos shared on social media show massive waves forcefully crashing into the Outrigger Bar, a restaurant on the base. As the water surged inside, people were sent flying through doors, trying to avoid being swept away. The damage caused by the waves was worsened by significant flooding on the northwest side of the island, which led to the inundation of at least one-third of the area.

Col. Drew Morgan, the commander of the installation, called this event one of the most challenging in the history of the Kwajalein Atoll. He acknowledged that the recovery process would be a marathon, possibly taking months or even years to fully restore the base.

While a few individuals suffered minor injuries, the majority of the base’s personnel were evacuated to ensure their safety. A group of 80 residents were transported to the nearby island of Kwajalein, while around 50 people remained on Roi-Namur to assess damages and restore utilities.

The U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll, which supports the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, is leading the recovery efforts. Their immediate priority is to clear the runway on Roi-Namur so that personnel and equipment can be transported for the reconstruction process. The operation, named Operation Roi Recovery, involves multiple mission partners and is expected to take several months to complete.

The damage caused by the powerful waves can be seen in aerial photos, which reveal the extent of the destruction. The quarters, dining facility, bar, chapel, theater, and automotive complex all suffered varying degrees of damage, with some areas still submerged under water.