Low-lying Marshall Islands brace for tidal floods

MAJURO (AFP) — Emergency services were put on standby yesterday in Majuro, as rising king tides threatened to flood the capital of the lowlying Marshall Islands.

The national weather service warned “major inundation” was possible from last night through to Tuesday at peak tide periods in the Pacific island nation, highlighting its vulnerability to rising sea levels.

“We’re on stand-by through Tuesday,” Public Works Minister Tony Muller said as the 30,000 population of Majuro Atoll braced for the expected floods.

Heavy equipment, including bulldozers, was being positioned at critical locations around Majuro so that emergency crews can respond quickly in the event of flooding, according to Muller.

Majuro is barely a meter above sea level and the single road along the 50-kilometer (30-mile) length of the coral atoll is often blocked during serious flooding by coral, rocks, sand and garbage tossed up by waves.

The National Disaster Management Office has been placed on high alert and used its mass text messaging system for the first time last Friday to issue a high tide advisory.

The United States National Weather Service in nearby Guam issued an advisory yesterday morning warning that “major inundation of one to two feet is possible, especially during high tides inside the lagoon.”

King tides, which are extremely high tides, are a natural phenomenon early in the year in the Marshall Islands caused by the strong gravitational pull from a new or full moon when the moon is at its closest to the earth.