5 Feb 2018

Marshalls avoids serious tidal flooding so far

11:23 am on 5 February 2018

King tides in the Marshall Islands have not been as high as feared, with only light flooding on the low-lying capital, Majuro.

In this photo from last month's peak high tide in Majuro, a local youngster reacts as king tide-driven waves wash over a seawall on Majuro. Significantly higher tides are anticipated this week.

In this photo from last month's peak high tide in Majuro, a local youngster reacts as king tide-driven waves wash over a seawall on Majuro. Significantly higher tides are anticipated this week. Photo: RNZI / Giff Johnson

Emergency alerts were sent around the island late last week, with major ocean inundation feared from the king tides.

But our correspondent on Majuro, Giff Johnson, said the tides had been fairly modest, compared to previous years where the island was extensively flooded.

"We are getting ocean water coming in over sea walls, especially we see it along the low-lying road next to the airport runway. There's so much rocks and coral and stuff tossed up but still it's a very small result compared to what we have seen when we've had big inundations."

Giff Johnson said the situation had been helped by there being no nearby storms to whip up the swells.

However, the height of the king tides is due tonight.

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