Last weekend, a US Army report revealed that a US military facility in the Pacific Ocean suffered significant damage from “gigantic” waves. The facility, located on Roi-Namur island in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts a US military ballistic missile defense test site. A video posted on social media captured the surge of water flooding a dining facility, causing damage to infrastructure and prompting evacuation orders.
In response to the incident, Col. Drew Morgan, commander of US Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll, stated that there were only minor injuries from the “unpredicted, gigantic waves.” However, the Army report indicated extensive damage to the island’s infrastructure, including housing, the automotive complex, theater, and chapel. The recovery operation, termed “Operation Roi Recovery,” is expected to take months to complete. The runway on the island needed clearing to initiate recovery efforts.
The video footage suggested the occurrence of a “rogue wave,” defined by the National Weather Service as unusually large waves appearing in a set of smaller waves. Rogue waves are unpredictable, at least twice the size of surrounding waves, and can deviate from prevailing wind and wave patterns. Rising sea levels due to climate change exacerbate the impacts of such waves, especially on low-lying islands like the Marshall Islands.
The US Geological Survey notes that Roi-Namur has a maximum elevation of less than 4 meters (13 feet). The island’s remote location, approximately 3,900 kilometers (2,100 miles) southwest of Hawaii, makes it suitable for missile testing and detection. The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein, operated by the US Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, utilizes the atoll for radar, optical, and telemetry sensors supporting missile testing, launches, space reconnaissance, and surveillance operations.
Despite the challenges posed by the damage, the Army’s strategic testing and monitoring activities continue, emphasizing the critical role of Kwajalein Atoll in supporting US missile defense and space-related operations.
