Marshalls and Kiribati hit by unseasonal storm

4:37 pm on 4 January 2019

A tropical depression north of the equator has caused flooding in Western Kiribati and the Marshall Islands.

The unseasonal tropical storm brought heavy rain and thunderstorms across a wide area from Tarawa to Majuro.

Flooding in Kiribati's Temaiku East

Flooding in Kiribati's Temaiku East Photo: Humans of Kiribati

Authorities in both countries warned of hazardous seas as high as 3.6 metres.

Many of the islands in the storm area are below one metre.

There are some reports of extensive damage on the Kiribati island of Tamana.