Majuro: Marshall Islands, countries Island in the South Pacific was cleaning up Wednesday after storms and tidal surges triggered extensive flooding, with rising seas caused by climate change blamed for the flooding.
Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia states all reported flooding, with reports that the remote parts of Vanuatu are also being hit by the rising waters.
“The government of the Micronesian countries have been made aware of the vast pool of salt water on the island nation as a result of the ongoing wave of the King and the storm surge,” said President David Pañuelo in a statement.
“The government has received many requests from citizens who ask for support.” In the Marshall Islands capital Majuro, sea water surging past the stone barriers and discuss part of the road to the airport to a depth of 50 centimeters (20 inches) before receding.
Solomon Islands police issued a warning to residents to stay away from swollen rivers and streams.
Climate researcher Murray Ford said flooding in Marshalls caused by a combination of bad weather, tides, La Nina weather pattern and the long-term rise in sea level, is widely associated with global warming.
“An event like this would be relatively harmless in the 1990s, but especially higher sea level today than back then,” said Auckland University academic told AFP.
“Rising sea levels increase the frequency and magnitude of such an event.” Ford said that the equipment mounted tide gauge in Majuro in the early 1990s showed sea levels rose by an average of 4.8 millimeters (0.2 inches) per year.
“Unfortunately, with the steady sea level rise, flooding events will become more frequent, more widespread, and much more severe.
We have to plan and prepare for this now,” said Majuro Resident and former chief secretary of Ben Graham Marshall Islands.
Low Pacific islands is among the countries worst affected by climate change, with some risk entirely flooded by rising sea.
They are also threatened by cyclones are getting stronger, while droughts and floods are becoming more common throughout the area when the weather swung from one extreme to the other.