03/03/14 – Marshall Islands floods

King tides overwhelmed the Marshall Islands on 3 March, causing over a thousand people to be evacuated from their homes in the capital of Majuro and neighbouring islands.

The low-lying islands are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise, with some of the coast sitting just 30cm above sea level. Some residents are already thinking about longer term displacement to other parts of the islands as strong tides become more frequent and intense, causing damage to the shoreline.