This is the terrifying moment freak waves smashed the doors of a military base in the Marshall Islands, causing the evacuation of “non-mission personnel” and sending furniture flying.
The bizarre incident occurred around 9pm on Saturday when three to four foot high “weather-related waves” devastated Roi-Namur, an island in the northern part of Kwajalein Atoll.
One person suffered lower body injuries and was treated at the Kwajalein Island clinic. That person is in stable condition, according to Army public affairs officer Mike Brantley.
Flooding caused by the massive waves also hit two airports in Ailinglaplap Atoll, a ring-shaped island surrounded by coral.
“We are assuming responsibility for all personnel and have evacuated all non-mission-relevant personnel to Kwajalein,” the U.S. Army said in a statement Sunday evening.
People are seen behind the door collapsed by violent waves just outside the dining room in the Marshall Islands
One person suffered lower body injuries and was treated at the Kwajalein Island clinic. This person's condition is now stable
Rocks, debris and coral remained from the impact and are expected to keep airports closed for weeks as other islands in the atoll reported flooding and moderate damage.
The video is now circulating online and shows the exact moment the gigantic waves flow through the army dining room.
Someone from inside the hall captures the moment the rushing water breaks through right outside the entrance as the people outside try to grab what they can and escape.
With barely enough time, the violent waves quickly break through the glass of the double doors and shatter.
Water continues to flow into the building as people gather around the dining room, holding on to available furniture and appearing anxious.
A man hovers over a piece of furniture while holding a green bottle of beer and watching the wave flow through it.
According to Marianas Variety, two waves were reported at the catastrophic site, with the first entering the base and the second entering the dining hall, reaching a height of five feet.
“The U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll Garrison and mission partners have established an Emergency Operations Cell to monitor and coordinate all recovery efforts,” the Army said in a statement.
Large branches of trees can be seen caught in heavy waves that broke through the building on the island
The U.S. Army base in the Marshall Islands is home to military personnel, civilian government employees, family members, U.S. contract personnel, and host nation personnel
A damage assessment carried out by the army on Sunday morning showed how the flood swept through Rio-Namur, submerging “at least a third of it”.
According to the army, flooding also occurred in other buildings and “in the entire area of the automobile warehouse.”
A small island just three miles from Rio-Namur was spared from the surge and overall flooding, said David Paul, a Kwajalein member of Parliament.
Roi-Namur is home to some of the U.S. Army's most advanced space tracking equipment, part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site.
In addition to military personnel, the base also houses civilian government employees, family members, U.S. contract personnel and host nation personnel.
“These great people come together to form a diverse element best described as ‘Team Kwaj,’” the U.S. Army said on its website.
A damage assessment carried out by the army on Sunday morning showed how the flooding had inundated Rio-Namur, submerging “at least a third of it”.
Two waves were reported at the catastrophic site, the first entering the base and the second entering the dining hall, reaching a height of five feet
The islands of Kwajalein and Roi-Namur are home to about 1,300 Americans who work for the U.S. government and Department of Defense and are U.S. contractors.
The Marshall Islands is a country in the central Pacific Ocean and consists of more than 1,200 islands and bays.
After World War II, the United States took over military and administrative control of the Marshall Islands from Japan in 1944.
In 1983, the Marshal Islands signed a pact of free association with the United States and gained independence.