Marshall Islands govt declares emergency after Ebeye fire leaves over 100 homeless

The government of the Marshall Islands has declared a 90-day state of emergency after a fast-moving fire ripped through Ebeye Island, leaving more than 100 people homeless and destroying major commercial and residential buildings.

President Hilda Heine signed the executive order in Majuro on Tuesday, giving authorities wide powers to speed up recovery work and release emergency funding for families and businesses hit by the disaster.

Ebeye, a small but densely populated island in Kwajalein Atoll, is home to about 8000 people.

The fire swept through key parts of the community last weekend, destroying at least 10 homes and wiping out two major commercial buildings.

The blaze left the Lucky Start retail warehouse in ruins, along with its entire stock. It also destroyed the Anrohasa Ebeye Hotel, one of the island’s oldest and largest hotel operations.

According to official briefs from United States Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll, Commander Colonel Matthew Cannon activated the base’s Emergency Operations Centre immediately after the fire to coordinate rescue vessels and support the response.

A fire engine crew was also deployed and remains stationed on Ebeye to assist ongoing recovery efforts.

In a statement, Marshalls' Finance Minister and local representative, David Paul, said the government was moving quickly to support recovery efforts and clear damaged sites so rebuilding can begin.

He said Ebeye’s leadership including Mayor Hirata Kabua and the island’s four traditional chiefs has also formed a unified coordination group to speed up decision-making and cut delays as reconstruction gets underway.

Aerial view of Ebeye Island showing fire damage and dense housing areas after the blaze, as recovery efforts begin in the Marshall Islands following the declaration of a 90-day state of emergency. Photo/RNZ Pacific/Kwajalein Atoll Development Authority

“It's important to demonstrate to the public that the government will make a fast response to mobilise and rebuild,” Paul said.

He added that removing unsafe debris was now the immediate priority.

The scale of the disaster triggered support from both local crews and international partners.

Australian-based contractor Hall Contracting diverted heavy machinery from a seawall project to help bring the fire under control, working alongside firefighters and volunteers.

The government says Hall Contracting and local company Pacific International Inc will now be formally engaged to assist with ongoing clean-up and recovery work.

Support also came from the US military presence on nearby Kwajalein Atoll. The base opened its emergency operations centre and coordinated early response efforts with local authorities.

A military vessel carrying supplies, a fire engine and specialist personnel was also deployed to support the response, with teams remaining on site in the immediate aftermath.

Displaced families have been moved into temporary accommodation, including classrooms at the island’s primary school, which has been converted into emergency shelter space.

Local and national leaders, including traditional chiefs and the Kwajalein Atoll Development Authority, are now working together under the emergency framework to coordinate recovery.

The state of emergency gives the government expanded powers until September to speed up rebuilding and bypass administrative delays.

Officials warn the recovery effort will take time given the scale of destruction on the tightly packed island community.