Army service members had to think fast when tidal waters began flooding their military base.
The U.S. Army maintains outposts all around the world, with a significant portion concentrated across the Pacific. The nation of the Marshall Islands is home to more than 1,000 islands and islets, including the islands of Roi-Namur and Kwajalein, both of which are home to more than 1,000 U.S. military service members working at U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll.
On Jan. 20, service members enjoying a meal in the dining hall on Roi-Namur got quite the surprise when waves measuring several feet high crashed into the building, busting in doors and flooding the room in the process. Some service members were swept off their feet and were nearly pulled out to sea. Luckily, no one suffered serious injuries.
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Erik D. Hanson, a diver living nearby in the Kwajalein Atoll, shared a scary video of the incident on Instagram and clarified some misconceptions that were circulating about the harrowing experience.
"Roi-Namur island was hit hard by several huge waves Saturday night. It was NOT a tsunami as many other sites that stole my video are saying," he said. "No other islands were affected. It was a combination of wind, tides, and swell direction. It also was right after low tide at a 1.2-foot tide so [it] could have been worse. Very very thankful no one was seriously injured."
Indoor flooding can present a variety of dangers even if people aren't swept away. Water levels reaching electric outlets, for example, can lead to electrocution. Needless to say, everyone who was there at Roi-Namur over the weekend survived what could've easily become a deadly situation.
