Terrifying video captures moment monster wave blasts Army garrison door to smithereens

A U.S. Army base in the Marshall Islands was hit over the weekend by a rogue element: the Pacific Ocean. Massive waves swept U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein on the island of Roi-Namur Saturday night, wreaking destruction and prompting the evacuation of all "non-mission personnel." While there were reports of minor injuries, there were fortunately no fatalities.

Col. Andrew Morgan, commander of the garrison, said in a statement, "Last night a series of weather-driven waves resulted in significant ocean water inundation on Roi-Namur. Initial indications are all personnel are accounted for; however, TEAM KWAJ leaders are triple checking."

Scuba instructor Erik D. Hanson captured the fateful moment that a succession of large waves powered through the base.

Floodwaters can be seen rushing through the exterior corridor at the outset of the video while would-be diners, still ostensibly dry, look on with awe.

A man, presumably Hanson, can be heard yelling off-camera, "Keep the door closed! Keep the door closed!"

The ocean does not heed the cautioner's counsel. Instead, it bashes individuals against the dining room door with a surge several feet high, then sends the splintered door flying into the room.

After a brief respite, Hanson peers outside, spotting another surge.

"Coming in!" he yells as a debris-laden wall of murky water pushes toward the rear of the kitchen.

Another man notes the latest wave had to have been at least five feet high while a woman near the back of the room exclaims, "We gotta get outta here!"

The waters appear to kill the power, leaving the would-be diners soaked and in the dark.

Hanson later noted that the waves struck "right after low tide at a 1.2ft tide so could have been worse. Very very thankful no one was seriously injured."

The Daily Mail reported that one person suffered injuries to the lower body and was taken to the clinic on Kwajalein Island, but is now in stable condition, according to Army Public Affairs Officer Mike Brantley.

The garrison indicated that 80 residents of Roi-Namur were ultimately escorted to the Public Works Warehouse where they received hot meals and room keys for their temporary homes on Kwajalein.

An initial aerial assessment on Sunday found that there was flooding on at least one-third of the northwest side of the island, including on the airport's runway and through various buildings. Rocks and coral were reportedly carried onto the island by the surge, contributing to the need to keep the airports temporarily closed.

The full extent of the damage is still being examined.

Roi-Namur is a critical part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site and home to various radar systems.

According to the Army, the test site "is a vital national asset providing live-fire developmental and operational flight testing of offensive and defensive missile systems, equatorial satellite launch capability, space object tracking and characterization, and atmospheric science research."

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